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SCRIP  T  U  RE     TRUTHS 


DEMONSTRATED. 


IN     THIRTY -TWO 

SERMONS, 

O    R 

DECLARATIONS 


O   F 


STEPHEN    CRISP, 

Late  of  C  o  L'9h  e  s  t  e  r,  in   Essex,  deccafcd, 

CAREFULLY    TAKEN     IN 

Charatlers   or   Short-Hand, 

*  AS  THEY  WERE  DELIVERED  BY  HIM  AT  THE  PUBLIC 

MEETING-HOUSES 

OF    THP    PFOPTK   n^K-i-'-" 

QUAKER 

In   and  about  LONDON. 


'AITHFULtV    TRAN'SCRIEED    AND    PUBLISHED,     TOGETHER     WI 


Fai 


PRAYERS    AFTER   SERM' 


PHILADELPHIA: 

Priuted   and   sold    by    J  O  S  E  P  H     J  a  M  E  S,     is    Chesnut-S 

BET^VEEN    TkOUT    AND    SeCO  ND-Sl  REi^T  S. 
K.DCC.LXXXVir. 


TO    THE 

HEADER. 

u¥0'  the  Writer  of  theje  Sermons  doth  out 
of  Mo  defy  decline  to  print  his  Name,  yet 
he  does  affrnx  the  Reader,  that  he  has  not 
in  the  leaft  altered  or  impojed  upon  the  Preach- 
er s  Senje,  either  in  the  taking  or  tranjcribing 
of  them  :    And  he  does  further  declare^  that 
he  neither  is,  nor  ever  zoas,  one  of  the  People 
called  Quakers,  bid  always  of  another  Perfiia- 
fion:   Yet  being  zoilling,  axcordivgto  the  Abof 
ties  Rule,  to  try  all  Things,  he  has  fometivies 
been  prefent  at  their  Meetings  ;   and  hax)inp; 
tiie  Art  of  Short-Writing,  he  has  taAen  many 
of  their  Sermons  and  Prayers  from  the  Mouths 
cj  divers  oj their  Preacher s ;  and  among  others, 
thofe  6/ Stephen  Crifp,  dcceafed;  which,  upon 
^-^^^-',  rijifjcared  to  him,  as  zuell  as  to  erai- 
'vfohs  of  dnotner  >^ea,  to   contain  fa 
fpel  Truths,  delivered  with  fuch  Plain- 
'al  and  Dcmonf  ration,  and  generally 
de  to  the  known  Do&rines  of  Chrifli- 
that  it  is  hoped  the  pubUfliing  of  them 
e  if  end  to  the  World :    And,  that  the 
I  and  Intent  of  them  muy  be  the  more 
y  comprehended,  there  is  a  Title  given 
very  Sermon,    agreeable   to  the  Subjed- 
ier  chiefly  treated  of  therein. 
London^,  March,  1694- 


SERMON     I. 

The  Great  Mediator  of  the  Everlasting 
Covenant. 


Preached  at    GRACE'CHunCH-STKEFT,    APRIl^ 
2^^    ioc'8, 

^ty  Triends, 

O^W  fliould  we  all  admire  the  workings  of  the  Holy 
"fe  Ghoft  1  You  may  know  from  your  own  experi 
•^  ence,  that  all  the  operations  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  from 
the  beginning,  have  been  in  order  to  the  cleanfing,  and  pu- 
rifying, and  preparing  you  for  the  kingdom  of  God.  This 
experience  is  given  to  a  little  remnant,  to  know  that  the  man- 
ner of  his  working,  that  the  end,  aim  and  defign,  of  all  the 
operations  of  his  pov/er,  is  for  our  good,  and  in  order  to  our 
eternal  happinefs. 

Now,  this  is  a  great  engagement  upon  the  minds  of  die 
people  of  God,  diligently  to  wait  upon  him,  that  they  may 
be  opened  more  and  more  into  the  myftery  of  life  and  falva- 
tion,  that  hath  been  hid  from  ages  and  generations,  and  is 
now  revealed  by  his  fpirit. 

And  they  that  are  thus  exerci^lsd  with  the  meafure  of  grace 
given  unto  them,  they  do  grow  and  encreafe  in  holinefs  and 
righteousness,  by  the  working  thereof;  and  they  encreafe  in 
knowledge  in  the  great  things  of  the  law,  and  the  myfteries  of 
the  kingdom  of  grace  :  By  the  eye  which  God  hath  opened,  . 
they  difcern,  that  the  working  of  his  power  in  all  ages,  has 
been  for  the  extirpating,  rooting  out  and  deftroving  of 
that  root  of  iniquity,  that  hath  brought  forth  iucn  a  crop 
of  (in  and-  wickednefs,  which  was  not  of  his  planting,  nor 
of  his   creating.  ^ 

For,  from  the  beginning  of  the  creation  of  God,  unto 
this  day,  God  hath  had  a  fingular  love  and  favour  to  the 
fons  and  daughters  of  men,  as  being  (as,  I  may  fay)  the 
mafter-piece,  or  greateft  piece  of  the  creation,  moft  nearly 
related  to  himielf,    created  in  his  own  im^age,  m  righte- 

oufnefs 


4  The  GrEAT  Mediator  of 

oufnefs  and   holinefs  ;  and   in  that  they   now   are  not  fo, 
but  marred,  and  fpoiled  from  bearing  the  heavenly  image, 
is  not  the  Lord's  doing,  but  hath  been  VTought  by  the  enemy 
boch   to   God  and   man  ;  vet  the  Lord  continuini^  his  love 
unto   the   work  of  his   hands,    hath   from   age  to   age   re- 
vealed and   made   known  his  power,  for  the  redoring  and 
bringing  back  again    lofb  man,  fallen   man,  finful  man,  to 
be   r^econciled  unto  him  ;    that  he   may,    as  was   intended, 
enjoy  and  pOiTefs  the  love  and  favour  of  his  Maker  ;  but 
there  was   no   pofTibility  fjund  for  his  reconciliation  with 
the   holy    God,    but    by   making   him   holy  :    For    as   the 
making  him   unholy,    feperated  him   from  his  Maker  j    io 
the   making   of   hirn   holy  again,    would  unite   him  again 
unto  his  Maker:   So  that  there  muft  be  a  way  and  mxcans 
for  the  reducing  of  him  to   his  primitive  ftate,    before  he 
could  enjoy  and  obtain  his  primitive  enjoyments  ;   that  is, 
the  love  and  favour  of  God  :    And  there  hath  been  a  ge- 
neral univer-al  fen^e,  upon  the  ions  and  daughters  of  men, 
of  this   alienation,  and  eftrangedneis  from  God  ;  and  they 
have  put  themselves  upon   divers  ways  and  methods  to  ob- 
tain  reconciliation,  and  to  try  if  they  could   reilore  them- 
felvcs  ;    and  they  have   found   out   ways,    and    tried    and 
proved  the  inventions  and  imaginations  of  their  own  minds, 
in  their  fallen  wifdorn,  what  they  might  do  to  pleaie  God, 
and   be  reconciled  to  him. 

We  are  finners,  and  we  will  facrifice,  we  will  bring  a  facri- 
fice  fur  our  {ins  j  and  when  men  have  brought  a  facrifice,  it 
hath  not  been  accepted,  becaufe  there  hath  not  been  a  Medi- 
ator known,  that  might  mediate  for  them  with  the  Lord  ;  fo 
that  all  the  facrifices  they  have  offered,  have  never  beeng|- 
cepted  with  him,  in  order  to  an  atonement  and  reconcili- 
aticn.  Now  only  tho^e  that  have  relation  to  the  Mediator 
by  faith  in  him,  doth  he  intercede  for,  that  he  might  prefent 
them  again  to  God  ;  and  this  hath  been  the  diflFcrence  between 
facrincer  and  facrifice,  from  the  days  of  C.iin  and  ^Ld,  unto 
this  day.  Some  have  had  relation  to  the  Mediator  in  all  their 
fervices  and  facrifices,  and  fome  have  had  relation  only  to 
the  thing  offered,  and  the  fervice  performed  ;  but  they  have 
not  in  aU  ages  fped  alike  :  They  whofe  Service  and  worfhip 
was  performed  to  God,  with  a  relation  to  the  Mediator,  they 

have 


the  Everlasting  Covenant.  5 

have  found  acceptance  ;  and  they  whofe  v/orfhip  and  fervice 
\5C^as  performed  only  \xith  a  relation  to  the  thing  offered  or 
donCy  that  was  but  their  o\t'n  ad,  that  was  but  their  \c  iil- 
W'orlhip,  and  that  was  always  turned  back  again  upon  them  ^ 
for  there  IS  r:o  nairt  gkeii  uwJer  Heaven y  byvchich  any  can 
befa-edy  but  only  the  7iame  of  Jefus  Chrift ;  that  is  the 
Mediator  of  the  new  covenant,  for  the  old  one  was  broken: 
And  when  A:i.rcn  was^et  up  to  be  an  high-pried  to  Go^,  he 
was  appointed  to  offer  facrilices  for  the  fms  of  the  people,  and 
he  that  commitced  a  fm,  was  appointed  by  the  law  tc  bring 
an  he-goat  of  the  flock  unto  the  door  of  the  tabernacle,  an(l 
to  deliver  it  to  the  prieft,  and  he  was  to  make  an  offering  for 
the  fin  committed  after  iuch  and  fuch  a  manner,  and  it  was 
to  be  an  atonement  with  God  for  him  :  So  here  was  feem.ir!^- 
ly,  a  reconciliation  by  a  facrifice  ;  and  fome  faw  no  farther 
than  the  bringing  of  a  goat,  and  a  ram,  and  the  performance 
of  the  prieft's  ofHce,  and  they  counted  all  was  well  :  And 
others  -aVv^  farther,  long  before  the  apoftlc  fpake  or  wrote  it,' 
it  ivas  720t  the  bleed  cf  btdls  or  gc^ts,  72cr  the ' bleed  of  a  rcm^ 
that  could  pur  pre  aveay  fi?t  fran  their  confciences.  And  after  the 
apoO^le  had  opened  the  myftery  of  Divinity,  who  had  a  divine 
and  'pirituai  skill,  in  unfolding  the  reftoration  of  mankind, 
he  declared  plainly,  that  11  hen  the  offertiigv:as  made  by  Aaron 
fcr [inner Sy  even  then  there  remained  fliii  a  conscience  of  fin  :^ 
for  It  ivas  not  pfl^hble  that  the  blood  of  bulls  and  goats ^  fhoiild 
take  away  fin  :  So  that  their  outward  perform.ances,  and  their 
outward  fervices,  they  did  but  point  out  the  Mediator  y  they 
had  a  pointing  finger,  as  it  were,  to  the. real,  true  and  ever- 
lafting  Mediator,  Chrift  Jefus ,  who  is  made  a  Mediator 
betwixt  God  and  man ;  that  by  and  through  him,  man  mi^ht 
be  again  reconciled  to  God. 

So  that  now  in  the-e  gofpel-days,  wherein  God  is  opening 
the  miyftcries  of  life  and  falvation,  to  the  intent  and  pur- 
pose, that  the  fons  and  daughters  of  men  m.ight  be  reftored 
again  into  their  primitive  enjoyment  of  the  favour  of  God  ; 
now  in  thefe  days,  it  is  the  duty  of  all  Chridians,  and  of  all* 
that  are  fecking  the  v/elfare  of  their  immortal  fouls,  to  have 
their  eyes  and  hearts  unto  Jc-us,  as  unto  one  that  is  able  to 
reconcile  them  unto  God  ;  to  hira  it  is  committed,  to  him 
wiidom  and  power  is  committed,  and  to  him  authority  is 

committed. 


6  The  Great  Mediator  of 

committed,  that  he  fhould  be  an  cverlafling  high-pri eft  j  ana 
that  all  the  ierviccs,  and  all  the  woriliip  and  religious  per- 
formances that  people  offer  up  to  God,  fliouldbe  in  his 
name,  that  fo  by  him  they  mjght  be  recommended  to  God  : 
For  none  v/ili  find  acceptance  with  the  Father,  unlefs  in  all 
their  performances  they  have  an  eye  unto  him. 

So  that  it  com.es  plainly  to  pafs,  according  to  that  fhort 
and  confident  affertion  of  the  author  to  the  Hehreivs,   that 
without  faith^  it  is  iTnpojphh  to  pleafe  God  :  But  it  is  pofTiblc 
to  off-^r  facrif^.ces   \i/ithout  faith,   and  poilible  for  people  to 
perform  religious  fervices  without  faith,  as  woful  experience 
hath  taught  us  in  our  days,  that  many  have  been  exercifed  in 
a  kind  of  religious  fervice,   that  never  in  their  lives  had  faith 
eiiough  to  believe  the  things  that  they  pray  for,  and  they  are 
without  faith.       When    people   pray    to   God   to   fend   his 
Holy  Spirit  into  their  hearts,  that  they  may  keep  his  com- 
mandments to  their  lives  end,  and  have  not  faith  to  believe 
it,  and  when   they  pray,    Thy  ivill  be  done  en  earth,,  as  a   is 
in   Heaven,   it  is  a  religious   perform^ance ;   but  if  it  be  not 
done  in  faith,  it  is  but  an  encreafing  in  iln,  and  an  addition  to 
lln.     Where  is  the  man  that  is  exercifed  in  praving  to  God, 
that  beiieveth  that  ever  ■  uch  a  thing  is  like  to  com.e  to  pafs  ? 
Go  where  you  will  in  this  or  the  other  nation,  and  enquire 
of  people  about  their  faith  ;  they  believe  there  is  no  pofli'bili- 
tv  of  extirpating  and  rooting  out  of  fin,  while  they  live  upon 
tne  earth  ;  therefore  all  their  prayers   for  it  are  vain,   and 
their   faith  a  vain  faith  :   And  it  is  high  time  in  fuch  a  dav  as 
this,   when   m.en  are  faithlefs  and  unbelieving,  to  preach  up 
the  object  of  faith,   the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift.     People  are  of  di- 
vers faiths,  and  of  divers  beliefs  j   but  we  have  found  bv  ex- 
perience,  that   they   do  them  no  good,  they  do  not  brinj^  a 
thing  to  pafs,  that  of  neceOity  miuft  be  brought  to  pafs,  before 
they  can  be  reconciled  to  God  ;  their  faith  doth  not  cleanfe 
the, heart,   nor  extend  fo  far  as  to  believe  that  ever  they  fhall 
be  cleanfed  ;  in  all  the  woriliip  and  religion   that   they   per- 
^  form,   thev  com.e   not  to  this  faith,   that  they  fhall  be  made 
clean  :   All  that  is  done  is  but  in  ftn  and  uncleannefsj  they 
cannot  bring  a  clean  facrifxe  out  of  an  unclean  veflel  :    And 
our  Lord  Je'us   Chrifl:  faith  concerning  this  fubjccf^,   an  evil 
free  cannot  bring  forth  good  frvit  ;  but  there  muft  be  good 

fruit 


the  Everlasting  Covenant,  y 

fruit  brought  forth ;  how  muft  we  do  it  ?  ?*iake  the  tree 
good,  a?id  the  fruit  xvill  be  good.  When  mens  vain  janglings 
about  religion  and  religious  fancies  come  to  an  end,  then  all 
this  religion  will  appear  to  be  in  vain,  and  will  not  anfwer 
the  end  for  which  it  is  performed,  till  men  believe  that  it  will 
make  the  tree  good,  and  cieaniethe  heart,  and  transform  men 
by  renewing  the  fpirit  of  their  minds.  So  that  religion  muft 
begin  within  ;  and  it  i^  not  our  changing  of  forms  of  wor- 
ihip,  from  one  form  to  another,  and  taking  up  this  and  the 
other  opinion,  that  doth  change  our  hearts.  Sad  experience 
doth  teach  us,  that  men  may  carry  over  their  old  lufts  into  a 
new  religion  ;  we  can  carry  over  our  old  inclinations  into 
our  new  opinions  :  For  though  the  form  of  worfhip  be 
changed,  the  heart  remaining  unchanged,  and  the  lufts  un- 
mortified,  their  religion  is  m  vain,  let  them  be  of  what 
per^uafion  they  will. 

Now  the  remedy  of  this  great  calamity,  that  hath  over- 
fpread  all  forts  of  people  ',  for  there  is  no  Tort  of  people, 
but  there  are  thofe  among  them  that  are  under  this  great 
calamity,  of  holding  the  profeflion  of  godUnefs  with  an 
ungodly  mind,  and  the  profefnon  of  truth  with  a  faife  and 
treacherous  fpirit. 

And  for  the  remedying  of  this,  there  is  but  one  way  that 
all  men  be  brought  off  from  havin<^  their  eve  unto  their 
performances,  and  to  the  doctrines  and  tenets  that  they  hold, 
and  do,  as  the  apoftie  faith,  fix  their  eye  upon  Chrifl,  and 
look  upon  Jefus.  This  is  the  firft  thing  that  muft  begin  our  re- 
ligion y  for  Chrift  muft  be  the  Alpha  of  our  religion,  as  well 
as  the  O.'ucga  of  it.  If  I  begin  not  there,  let  me  begin  where 
I  will,  I  begin  wrong  j  let  me  begin  at  the  moff  ierious  and 
found  doclrine,  and  at  the  moft  apoftolical  reUgion  ;  if  Chrift 
and  his  apoftles  were  here  upon  the  earth ;  if  I  walked  among 
them  j  if  I'beheved  all  they  faid  and  did,  I  (liould  begin 
wrong,  if  I  did  not  fix  mine  eye  upon  Jefus  Chrift,  that 
is  the  taker  away  of  fin,  and  is  the  fandifier  of  the  foul 
by  his  Spirit.  There  m^uft  be  the  beginning,  and  there  muft 
be  the  conclufion  j  he  is  the  author,  and  the  finifher  of  all 
true  faith.  There  are  authors  of  other  faiths :  Men  have  their 
different  faiths,  and  creeds,  and  articles,  and  they  have  expof- 
ed  and  impofed  them  too  i  but  this  is  the  worft  of  it,  none  of 

"  them  ^ 


8  Th  Great  Mediator  of 

them  are  right;  let  them  be  expofed  and  irnpofed  v/ith  ever  fo 
much  force  and  violence,  none  of  the^e  will  cleanfe  the  heart ; 
but  that  faith  which  is  dehvered  over  by  Chrift  Je'us,  that  haih 
the  quality  of  cleanfing  and  puhf) mg  ;  that  is  the  faith  v/hen 
aii  is  done,  that  v/ill  do  the  work  ;  that  is  it  that  vc'ill 
fave  and  fandify,  and  do  the  bufinefs  that  all  the  \<'orld 
is  al?out.  Every  one  would  have  a  reconciler  with  God, 
and  fm  rooted  out,  and  be  as  God  would  have  them  be ; 
this  is  the  public  profefTion  of  Chriftendom  ;  at  lead:  they 
would  find  out  (omething  by  which  it  might  be  done  : 
Altho' many  are  v/illmg  enough  to  continue  in  fin  and  drunk- 
enneis,  whoredom,  lying  and  hypocriry  ;  the'e  are  a  lort 
c£  fools,  that  make  a  meek  cf  fin,  and  that  fwim  in  the 
fcream  of  pleafure  ;  and  what  care  they,  fo  long  as  they 
make   a    profefllon  of  chriftianity  I 

But  I  am  1  peaking  of  a  people  that  are  ftruggling  under 
their  corruptions ;  that  would  mortify  fm,  and  ferve  God  in 
hoiinefs  and  rignteouinefs,  and  do  God's  vjill  en  earth  as  it  is 
done  in  Heave?: ;  and  do  it  not  inform,  but  would  have  power 
to  do  it ;  and  they  have  tried  feveral  ways  to  do  it,  and  it  is 
not  done ;  and  many  have  been  at  this  work  till  grey  hairs  are 
upon  their  heads,  and  it  is  not  done.  Nov/  God  hath  given 
Chrift  to  make  reconciliation  ;  now  how  can  we,  that  have 
the  love  of  God  extended  to  us,  but  extend  our  good -will  to 
our  friends,  and  fignify  to  them,  that  all  the  travel  and  pains 
they  are  at,  and  all  the  prayers  they  make,  will  do  nothing  till 
they  have  their  faith  fixed  upon  Jefus,  that  is  able  to  fave  and 
deliver  them,  atid  fave  to  the  iinermof  all  that  come  to  God 
hy  him. 

But  here  fome  will  objed  and  fay,  it  is  true  what  you  fay, 
but  is  it  needful  to  preach  fuch  doctrines  to  us  i  for  we  ail 
beheve  in  Chrift,  that  is,  the  only  Mediator  and  Saviour. 
Ve  know  that  Chrift  Jeius  is  the  only  Mediator,  and  that 
vs^X^'is  he  commends  us  to  God,  we  cannot  be  accepted  of 
him.  This  is  our  general  dodrine,  therefore  what  need  it 
be  urged  and  prelled  i  p  jn  us,  that  are  come  into  the  faith 
already. 

Let  me  fearch  into  the  matter  j  it  is  of  greater  importance 
than  to  fearch  into  a  bargain  of  worldly  things.  Men 
V/ouldfain  have  others  open  and  diicover  to  them  wherein 

they 


the  Everlasting  Covenant,  ^ 

they  may  be  cheated,  to  prevent  their  being  impofed  on  in 
a  worldly  bargain.     I  hope  then  they  will  hearken  to  know 
hov/,'  and  wherein  they  may  be  deceived  b)'  themselves,  and 
deceived  by  others  in  matters  of  eternal  concernment.     There 
are  no  Proteftants,  but  they  rejec^l  any  Mediator  but  Jd";  us 
Chrift-,  and  believe  that  no  Mediator  can   reconcile  them  to 
God,  but  Chrifl:  alone,  and  they  fay  he  is  the  object' of  their 
faith.     I  would  ask  them  this  quefcion,  whether  rhey  b.c54cve 
in  Chrjd:  at  a  difrance,    or  as   pre'ent,  really  preient  with' 
them  ?  If  their  faith  be  hiftorical  and  at  a  diftance,  that  they 
believe  in  Chrift,  as  one  born  of  the  V^irgin  Mary^  and  was 
crucified  and  dead  before  they  were  born,  and  aro'e  again, 
and  a-cended  into  Heaven,   and  is  fet  at  the  right  hand  of 
God,  if  the  reafon  of  my  belief  be,  that  I  have  heard  of  this 
relation  of  Chrifl,  or  whether  the  reafon  be,  becauHs  by  his 
Spirit,  he  hath  vifited  me  in  this  age;  the  one  is,  I  believe, 
becaufe  good  men  have  told  me  fo ;  but  the  other  is,  I  be- 
lieve, becaufe,  bv  this  Spirit  he  hath  promised  to  fend,  to  lead 
me  into  all  truth,  he  hath  vifited  me.     Nov/  let  me  examine 
whether  I  am  aware  of  fuch  a  fpiritual  vifitation,    by  this 
quickening  Spirit,  \^rhich  is  the  Lord  from  Heaven,  and  not 
only  the  Lord  in   Heaven.     >^'hether  I   am  aVv^are  of  fuch 
a  quickening  power' and  virtue,  which  I  have  received  upon 
my  fpirit,  that  he  is  not  only  at  the  right  hand  of  God  on 
high  in  Heaven,  but  is  now  com.e  to  knock  at  the  door  of 
my  heart,  and  hath  raided  in  me  a  life;  as  oppofite  to  fin,  as 
his  was.      Let  me  confider  if  I  be  aV/are  of  a  fecret  touch 
of  his  quickening  virtue  upon  my  Toul,  whereby  he  hath 
begotten  me  into  a  life  oppoiite  to  lin  ;  fo  that  if  fm  remains, 
it  rem.ains  as  a  burthen,  and  oppreiTion  upon  me,  fo  that  I 
am  a  fufferer  ;  for  as  much  as  I  am  quickened,  and  made  fen- 
fible  of  a  better  life,  of  a  godiv  hfe,  I  would  fain  be  at  it, 
and  live  in  it,  but  iniquity,  luft  and  corruption   lie  in  the 
way.    He  that  hath  quickened  me  fo  far,  as  to  bring  me  to  a 
fenfe  of  the  buri;hen  of  fm,   my  faith  tells  me,  he  will  take 
the  burthen  off,  elfe  my  faith  will  do  me  no  good,  if  cor- 
ruption ftill  prevail  upon  me,  if  my  faith  tells  me  this,  it 
will  tell  the  witkedeft  man  in  the  world  as  miuch;  but  if  my 
faith  tells  me  Lam  a  fmner,  and  my  fins  confift  of  this  and 
the.qther  eviLthing  I  do,  and  am  inclined  to  do,  it  tells 

B  me 


10  The  Great  Mediator  of 

me  again,  that  he  that  hath  quickened  me,  and  brought  me 

to  a  ten'e  of  fm,  he  can  take  the  burthen  off  from  me. 

Here  now  is  a  true  faith,  that  begins  in  convidion,  and  ends 
in  true  converllon  ;  this  is  the  word  of  faith,  dehvered  to  the 
faints,  and  which  we  are  to  preach.  They  faid  of  old,  that  the 
word  of  £iith,  thev  had  to  preach,  was  that  which  was  nigh  in 
their  mouth,  that  they  might  receive  it,  and  do  it.  I  have 
fomcthing  nigh  that  reproves  m.e  for  fm  j  if  I  be  obedient  to  it, 
then  faith  gives  me  victory  overthat  which  is  finful,  for  which 
the  world "reproverh  me  ;'  aini  as  I  fee  faith  gives  me  vidory 
over  any  corruption,  which  I  have  been  ftrugghng  under,  I 
am  encouraged  to  nx  my  faith  upon  him  that  hath  thus  quick- 
ened me :  "S o  that  this  is  the  difference  between  faith  in 
ChriH:  at  a  diftance,  and  faith  that  quickeneth  me  by  God's 
Spirit  J  that  Spirit  that  hath  been  fo  much  flighted  in  our 
davs,  by  the  higheft  notionids  in  our  age  ;  they  luppofed  it 
to'be  a  meer  fiction  ;  fome  have  mocked  and  derided,  and 
others  have  been  difcouraged  to  fpeakof  theSpii-it  of  Chriil, 
and  his  operation  upon  the  foul  ;  ibme  have  declared  both 
in  the  prefs  and  pulpit,  that  they  have  had  no  experience  of 
the  touches  of  God's  Spirit  upon  their  fouls.  But  our  expe- 
rience hath  brought  us  to  another  degree  of  knowledge.  \^c 
know,  and  you  may  know  if  you  pleaie,  and  that  before  you 
ileep,  that  tliere  is  a  way  opened,  God  has  made  way  for  his 
Spirit  to  reach  the  fpirits  of  men,  to  fignify  immediately 
to  their  fpirits  without  means,  herein  thou  doeft  wrong,  and 
herein  thou  maveft  have  life,  and  feek  after  it.  Now  the 
Spirit  that  thus  worketh,  is  the  Spirit  of  Chriff,  the  Spirit 
that  proceeds  from,  the  Father  and  the  Son,  that  voice  in  men 
that  tells  them  they  might  believe  and  be  faved.  When  he 
comes,  faith  Chrift,  he  iviU  lead  you  into  all  truth.  How 
fiiall  the  world  know  this  is  he  ?  He  fJiall  convince  them  of 
fin.  If  there  be  anv  convincement  that  ari'eth  in  man  of 
this  and  the  other  lin,  it  mxuft  be  from  the  way  the  Holy 
Spirit  hath  upon  their  fpirits;  he  hath  a  way  to  fpeak  to 
'  men,  and  everv  one  that  is  a  lover  of  his  own  ioul,  is  bound 
to  hearken  to  that  voice. 

In  the  latter  days,  faith  the  Lord,  \vhen  I  fliaU  ra'ife  a 
'prophet  in  the  tfiidft  of  yon,  ivhnfe-cer  will  mf  hear  that  pro- 
phet, JJiall  hs  cut  off.     All  commentators  agree  on  this  text, 

that 


the   E^^ERLASTING    COVENANT.  It 

tKat  that  prophet  was  no  other  than  Chrifl  Je^tis  ;  it  was  not 
J-Ji;i  the  Bupttfl,  nor  Pau:^  nor  Peter  ;  but  Chnft  that  was 
promifed  to  be  rai-ed.  There  was  fuch  an  ablolute  com- 
mand went  along  with  that  prophecy,  that  all  jnould  kear 
^/;/7,  and  it  had  a  threatening  at  the  end  of  it,  that  all  that 
vo ill  not  hear  hirr^  fhall  be  cut  cff,  Are  they  not  whore- 
mongers, and  drunkards,  and  liars,  that  will  not  hear  this 
prophet  ?  They  will  not  hear  him,  becau  e  they  love  their 
fins.  What  becomes  of  them  ?  Thev  are  cut  off  from  the 
enjoyment  of  the  love  and  favour  of  God,  and  when  they 
draw  nigh  to  God  in  prayer,  and  other  religious  dxerciies, 
it  IS  with  them,  as  it  Vi^'as  \X'itli  Cam,  Jin  lies  at  the  door, 
When  they  come  into  a  ftorm  at  fca,  or  are  arrefced  with 
ficknefs,  and  death  looks  them  in  the  face,  they  would  have 
peace,  but  there  is  didre  s,  and  trouble  in  the  room  of  it. 
What  is  the  matter?  Waft  thou  not  baptifed  in  the  Chrif- 
tian  faith  ?  Did  not  the  mmifter  tell  thee,  that  thou  art  a  child 
of  G-'d,  and  an  inheritor  cf  the  kifQ^'^om  of  Heaven  ?  Alas  ! 
my  fin  lies  at  my  door  ;  O !  that  l  had  time  to  live  a  better 
life  !  What  ails  thy  life,  man  ?  My  life  hath  been  a  life  of 
deceit,  luft,  and  vanity,  corruption  and  hypocri'y.  Did 
not  thy  teacher  teach  thee,  that  a  believer  hath  no  guilt  upon 
him,  but  that  all  his  fms  are  pardoned  from  the  day  he  be- 
came a  believer?  Tms  dodrine  will  not  hold  in  a  ftorm,  tho' 
it  will  do  in  fair  weather  ;  when  men  are  fwim^ming  in  theif 
pleafures,  it  will  ferve  them ;  but  when  they  come  to  deal 
with  their  Maker,  no  faith  will  ferve  them,  but  that  which 
purifies  the  heart,  and  that  which  makes  a  change  from  the 
earthly  image  to  the  heavenly. 

It  were  better  for  you  and  I,  and  every  one  of  us,  to  take 
the'e  things  into   conhderation,   while  we   have  health  and 
frrength,  and  while  fome  fand  (as  I  may  fo  fpeak)  is  in  our 
glalTes,   to  confider  what  is  my  faidi  ?    What  is  the  objed 
of  it  ?   Have  I  a  dependency  upon  my  duties,  and  alms,  and 
good  deeds  ?  They  v/ill  fail  me.      But  if  my  dependency  be      ^ 
upon  Chrift  as  a  Saviour,  and  a  Sandifier,  and  my  fanctiiica- 
tion  is  carried  on  gradually,   he  that  hath  begin  a  good  '^-'orh^ 
in  me  vcill  perfeci  it.     And  if  the  reaion  of  my  going  to  meet- \^•- 
ings,   and  going  into  my  clo'et,  and  bowing  my  (elf  before      -^ 
the  Lord,  is  to  keep  clofe  to  him  that  carries  on  the  work  of 

fandifi- 


12  Ths  Great  Mediator  of 

fanclitication,  he  ivill  ivork    all  my  work  in  me  and  for  me, 
I  cannot  expcd  to  live  in  the  world,   but  I  Ihall  meet  with 
temptations  j    x\v^  Devil  will  tempt  me,  but  my  Saviour  will 
be  nigh  me,  as  nigh  to  me  as  the  Devil  can  be  j  if  I  will  keep 
clo'e  to  him,  he  will  keep  clofe  to   m.e.     Aly   Father^  faith 
Ch'nj}^   is  greater  than  I,  and  none  is  able  to  f.uck  you   ont  of 
your  F cither's  hands.     I   muft  expect  to  be  tempted  ;  for  the 
advhrfary  t,)e  Deri!  gees  aboiit    hke  a    roaring  lion,  feeking 
vjho:n  h:  inay  devour,     Alas  !   faith  one,  though  I  have  made 
fome  prosrefs  in  the  work  of  fandincation,   yet  for  all  that, 
he  may  one  day  betray  m.e.     Am  I  grown  (Irong  enough  to 
refill  his   temptations  ?  and   wife  enough  to  foresee  all  his 
gi-.is  and   trrips,   which   he  lavs  to  enfnare  me  ?  But  I  know 
who  can  fee  them,   and   defeat  them.     I  have  my  faith  fixed 
upon  one  that  can  bind   the   ftror.g  man,  and  cafl  him  out. 
The  life  that  I  now  live,  is  not  in  my  own  parts,  and  by  my 
own  underdanding  and  'cnfe  :   But  the  life  that  I  noiv   iive^ 
in  thefiefli,  I  Jive  by  the  faith  rf  the  S-n  of  God  :  This  is  that 
faiih  that  gives  mie  vid jrv.     The  apoflle  had  a  battle  for  it  ; 
I  have  fr.ight  the  Pood  fght  ;  and  henceforth  is  laid  up  for  me  a 
crown  ofrtghteo'cfnefs,  and  not  for  we  only,  but  for  all  them  that 
love  the  appearing  of  cur  Lord  Jefus  Chrijl ;  and  that  com.e  to 
have  familiarity  with  Chrift,  with  his  Spirit  and  truth,  with  his 
grace  7rc\<l  word,  in  their  hearts :  Though  the^e  arefevcral  ex- 
prelTions,  they  all  fifrnifv  one  immortal  feed  of  life,  by  which 
men  are  united  to  God  :   It  is  a  leaven  there,  to  leaven  them 
into  the  Divine  Nature. 

Whenever  fuch  a  one  is  tempted,  he  refiftsnot  the  tempter 
in  his  own  power,  but  he  waits  to  feel  the  arifmgs  of  that 
life,  and  power,  and  virtue  that  was  in  Chrift  Jefus,  and  is 
in  him  fcill :  He  waits  for  that  power,  that  in  the  name  of 
Chrifi:  he  may  fay,  get  thee  behind  n:-e  Satan.  Being  forti- 
fied by  Chriil's  name,  and  armed  with  his  power,  what  is 
it  that  a  Chridian  cannot  do  ?  What  valiant,  noble  and 
wonderful  things  have  thev  done,  that  have  been  iiiielded 
with  this  faith  ?  Sec  the  eleventh  chapter  of  the  epiftle  to  the 
Hebrews.  All  the  repetitions  of  that  chapter,  from  one 
c.id  to  the  other ;  in  all  of  them  the  apofl:le  afcribes  all  the 
valiantnefs  and  courageoufnef^s  of  thoTe  noble  ads,  to  the 
power  of  faith.      They  looked  to  Jefus,  before  ever  the 

Virgin 


the  Everlasting  Covenant.  t^ 

Virgin  Mary  brought  him   forth  out  of  her  body.      The 
prophets  did  earneftly   feek  to  know   thofe  things,    which 
the  Spirit   of  Chrift'that  >X'as  in  them,   did   iignify  unto 
them,  that  there  was  to  be  this  grer.t  Prophet,  before  ever  the 
Virg/n  Mary   was   born  :   So  that  Chrift  was  always  the 
objed  of  a  true  beUever's  faith.      T^hough  under  the  law. 
they  had  an  high-prieft,  and  he  was  placed  at  the  altar,  and 
they  had  offerings  burnt  upon    it,  yei  they  had  an  eye  w\to 
Chnft,  they  had  an  undervaluing  of  all  that  their  facrinces 
could  do  for  them.      If  then  vjoulc'eft  have  had  burnt  offerings y 
faith  David y  I  would  have  given  them  ;  I  would  net  have  ivzth^ 
he^d  them  from  thine  altar  ;  thou  fiouldeft  have  had  enhugh  of 
them.     He   was  bold  to  fav,   in  reaped  of  acceptance  and 
reconciliation,  l?urnt  offerirgi  and  facrifices  then  vjotddeft  not  ; 
a  body  haft   thou  prepared  me  ;  for  it  2S  voritten  in  the  volume 
cf  the  bocky  1  come  to  do  thy  vu ill,   0  God.     He  had  an  eye 
unto  Jefus  that  was  to  come,  upon  whom  help  was  laid  : 
There  was  a  Redeem.er,  that  (hould  come  from  Z/o»,   and  a 
law-giver  from  Jtrvfalem.     They  had  an  eye  beyond  facri- 
fices, unto  ChriR:.     In    all  ages  the  people   of  God  have 
had  the  anfwer  of  their  fouls,  which  is  reconciliation,   and 
the  favour  of  God  :  They  that  had  this  anfwer,  never  had  it 
but   by   Chrift.     No  man  can  be  accepted  v/ith  God,   can 
ever  have  the  defire  of  his  foul  anfv/ered  in  peace  and  recon- 
ciliation with  God,  until  his  faith  be -placed  on  Chrift  Jefus : 
Neither  can  any  man  have  faith  in  Chrift  at  a  diftance,  and 
thereby  be  reconciled  unto  God,  but  muft  know  his  Spirit. 
I  muft  have  an  experimental  knowledge  of  his  power  and 
wi'dom,  and  this  I  cannot  have  without  his  Spirit  :  Let  me 
believe  ever  fo  othordoxly,  except  I  have  the  Spirit  of  Chrift, 
it  will  do  me  no  good,   it  will  be  no  advantage  to  me. 

This  is  the  word,  that  was  in  m.y  heart  as  a  well-wiftier 
to  the  fouls  of  all  men  :  As  God  hach  done  good  to  my  fouj, 
fo  I  cannot  but  willi  well  to  the  fouls  of  others ;  that,  as  he 
hath  found  out  a  way  for  my  redemption  and  falvation,  fo 
likewife  i  wifn  the  lame  for  others  that  are  bond-m.en  and 
bond-wom.en,  and  under  the  power  of  their  corruption. 
God's  work  hath  been  to  deftroy  the  bondage  and  the  op- 
prefJon,  and  to  deftroy  the  tyrant  that  reigns  over  the  fouls 
of  people  j  God  having  made  them  for  his  glory,  and  the 
^Pevil  has  ftolen  them  away  :    That  they  do  not  that  which 

pleafeth 


74  The  Great  Mediator  of,  ^:c. 

plea^eth  God  :  But  God's  good  pleafure  is,  that  all  7n^y 
be  faved,  and  come  to  the  knoivleige  of  the  truth:  And  God 
fo  loved  the  world,  that  he  gave  his  only  begotten  Son,  that 
ivhofoever  beJieveth  in  hiin^flwuld  not  perijli,  but  have  everlaftt77gr 
life:  And  he  is  called,  the  Lamb  of  God,  vohich  takes  away 
the  fins  of  the  world.  He  can  take  away  fm  ;  if  my  fin  do 
not  obftrucl  my  faith  and  confidence  in  him,  he  will  take  it 
av^ay  j  and  if  he  takes  that  away,  then  he  makes  the  tree  good. 
Nothing  hinders  us  from  the  enjoyment  of  God,  but  (in  ; 
and  if  Chrifl:  will  take  it  away  by  the  blood  of  his  cro's,  no 
matter  for  all  the  fcorn,  contempt,  hardihip,  reproach  and 
per  ecution  of  this  world  ;  no  matter,  for  he  hath  not  de- 
ceived us,  but  told  us  before  hand,  if  we  will  be  followers 
of  him,  and  be  led  by  him,  we  muft  exped  thefe  things  ; 
fufoings,  reproaches,  persecutions,  difdain  and  envy.  Thefc 
things  come  not  uncertainly  upon  us  \  the  world  loves  its 
own,  and  cannot  love  them  that  are  not  of  it;  but  thev  that 
are  not  of  the  world,  may  be  brought  to  the  terms  of  God, 
and  they  may  not  be  any  ionger  in  the  world.  Chrifl:  pray- 
eth  not  that  his  difciples  may  be  taken  out  of  the  world, 
but  kept  from  the  evil  :  So  that  Chrifl  is  a  Mediator,  and  a 
propitiation  for  all  men  \  and  he  is  working  by  his  Spirit  for 
the  redemption  of  all  men,  that  to  as  many  as  believe  in  hnm^ 
to  them  he  gives  pouwr  to  become  the  Sons  of  God. 

Thefum  of  all  thisis,  that  v/e  have  an  opportunity  put  into 
©ur  hands;  we  cannot  deny  it;  \ou  muft  all  upon  fearch, 
confe-^s,  that  the  grace  of  God  doth  often  v/ork  in  your 
hearts  againft  any  corruption,  againft  any  evil :  Let  not  this 
price  be  put  into  your  hands  in  vain,  as  into  the  hands  of 
fools.  If  I  knew  that  this  and  that  was  a  fin,  I  would  leave 
it  ;  let  us  be  of  that  mind,  and  we  iliall  foon  1  i  ow  it;  and 
then  lay,  if  I  knew  fuch  a  thing  to  be  a  fm,  and  could  get  a 
thoufand  pounds  by  it,  I  v/ould  not  do  it.  Why  Ihould'ft 
thou  love  fin  for  profit  or  pleafure  ?  1  am  fure  it  is  an  ill 
bargain  when  it  is  done.  Whatfoever  I  am  convinced  is 
a  fin,   I  will  not  do  it. 

Refolve  upon  this,  and  then  the  grace  of  God  will  be  at 
work  ;  we  Ihall  foon  fee  that  we  muft  leave  off  finning. 
There  is  fuch  a  thing  I  muft  leave  ;  God  hath  fet  up  a  jvrJg- 
ment  in  my  mind  againft  it ;  though  it  bring  profit  and 
piealure,  away  it  muft  go.     Here  is  a  ftep,  a  following  ftep., 

to 


His  Prayer  after  Sermon.  i§ 

to  follow  Chrift.  He  that  will  deny  himfelf,  will  follow 
Chrift  :  My  Redeemer  fhews  me  this  to  be  an  evil,  I  will 
not  do  it,  but  follow  him,  and  imitate  him.  Here  the  foul 
is  led  ftep  by  ftep,  even  by  Chnft,  the  Captain  of  our  Salva- 
tion, till  it  is  gradually  cleansed  fromfm,  and  reconciled  unto 
God  ;  and  this  can  be  done  by  no  other  means ,  for  prayers 
and  alms  will  not  do  it ,  all  that  can  be  done  by  us  will  not 
do  it ;  none  can  do  it  but  Chrift  alone,  that  God  hath  bid 
help  upon,  that  you  m.ay  all  wait  for  the  Divine  operation 
of  his  grace  in  your  hearts.  That  is  it  which  we  labour  and. 
travel  for,  as  knowing  that  God  hath  wrought  wonderfully 
by  it,  for  the  redemption  of  all  thole  that  love  him  m.ore 
than  they  love  their  pleafures,  more  than  they  love  their 
fms.  It  muft  be  concluded,  that  following  of  him,  and  leav- 
ing father  and  mother,  hufband  and  v/ife,  children,  brethren, 
and  fillers  ;  all  thefe  things  as  they  ftand  in  competition  with 
him,  and  the  obedience  of  his  Spirit,  muft  be  looked 
upon  as  nothing  to  him  :  Then  above  all  things,  I  muft  not 
difpleafe  him  :  He  can  f peak  peace,  and  none  can  take  it  avjay  ; 
and  if  he  take  it  away,  nojte  can  giie  it.  If  we  follow 
Chrift,  when  this  is  done,  then  all  is  done  according  to  the 
will  of  God  ;  then  the  blefting  defcends  upon  the  whole 
creation  ;  then  every  man  will  i peak  truth  to  his  neighbour, 
and  every  man  will  govern  his  family  with  difcretion  ;  fo 
God  is  glorified,  and  his  name  comes  to  be  exalted  ;  who  is 
worthy  to  be  beloved,  adored,  and  exalted  above  all  blefllngs 
and  praifes.  To  him  be  glory,  who  is  God  over  all,  bleued 
forever  and  ever.     Auien. 

His  Prayer  after  Sermon. 

-/Vl  O  S  T  glorious  God  of  life  and  power y  and  of  everlajting 
krndnefs ;  a  God  of  long-fufferir.g  and  patience^  elfe  ws 
had  not  been  here  at  this  da  >, 

Lordy  we  are  monuments  of  thy  mercy  I  thou  haft  f pared  us 
lo?jgy  and  haft  called  wnto  us  in  a  day  when  we  turned  away 
our  ear  from  thee  :  Thou  heft  fir  etched  forth  thy  hand  all  the 
day  lorg,  and  thou  ha  (J  gathered  a  little  remnant  of  the  Icfe 
fuep  of  the  houfe  of  IG*ael  to  partake  of  thy  paftures  of  life  ; 
end  now  all  our  fouls  have  been  greatly  refrejhed  and  cow.* 

fortsd 


iS  His  Prayer  after  Sermon, 

fortedy  Juice  ive  came  to  widerftand  and  comprehend  ivith,  the 
reft  of  thy~  faints^  the  height,  and  lengthy  and  breadtk^  and 
depth  of  thy  love^  ijehick  in  the  Son  of  thy  love^  then  h.Jt 
revealed  to  u-. 

Aijd^  huffed  Father  of  Lfe  I  our  fouls  do  breathe  and  cry 
unto  tkeey  on  the  behalf  of  fir  angers  y  which  are  aliens  fro?n  the 
eommomveahh  c/Ilrael,  t/iat  are  yet  breathing  and  enquiri7:g 
efin  thee,  asking  the  way  to  Zion. 

O  Lord  I  ren:€rnber  them  and  he&r  their  cry^  a'nd  let  their 
fighing  and  complaining  enter  into  thine  ears  ;  that  all  they^  in 
"ivhom  thou  hafi.  begun  to  kindle  holy  dejlres  after  thee^  may 
have  them  grow  into  a  flames  io  burn  up  all  enmity  to.thee  ;  that 
fo  they  may  hs  purified  by  thy  jugir.entSy  a/td  receive  of  thy 
heavenly  grace,  T^his  is  the  way  which  thou  hafi  ufed  with 
thy  children  ;  thou  hafi  co7nmanded  them  to  ivorjliip  thee  in 
thy  dwellincr-place  ;  thnu  hafi  taken  them  into  thy  houfe,  and 
fed  them  with  thy  fineft  wheat y  refrefied  them  vjith  thy  loving 
kindnefsy    and  filled  them  with  thy  Holy  Spirit, 

Dcarefi  God  of  Love  1   th'is   is   the   defign   and  purpofe  of 
mr  mectinp'  tr^c-cther,  that  vje  fnay   enjoy   the  prefence,  and 
feel  the  operation  of  thy  wordy  and  have  communicn  with  theey 
and  thy  Son  Jefus  Chrifi,   through  thy  Holy  Spirit  ;  the  way 
into  refi  and  life  is  vjlth  thee,     ^iliou  caifi  open y  and  no7ie  can 
fhut.     Lord  I   open  the  hearts  of  this  people^    to   receive  of  thy 
goodnefsy  and  receive  of  thy  bleffing^  ;   that  fo  every  one  may 
be  fenftbhy    that  thou  art   at  leajt   knocking  at  the  door  of 
their   heartSy  that  thou   mighteft  have   an  eritrance^   and  bow 
the  hearts  and  wills  of  ally    to  receive  what  thou  glvfi  and  hafi 
to  offer  ;  to  receive  the  veord  of  life,  by  vjhich  thou  art  quicken- 
ing'^tliem,  and  kindling  holy  defires  after  thyfelf  that  every  one 
may  reclve  the  truth  in  the  love  of  it  :    That  fo  blejfed  God  of 
Life  I  thy  g^Iorious  veork   cf  redeinption  may  be  carried  oUy  and 
we  m,ay  all  feel  it  carried  on  in  our  fouls. 

Hear  thy  poor  people  that  are  crying  unto  thee,  the  God  of 
Gods  in  Zion!  that  are  fenftble  of  their  weaknefs  and  fee- 
hlenefsy  and  how  unable  they  are  to  overco?ne  the  enemies 
df  their  fouh:  Arife  in  thy  power,  0  Lord  I  and  thefe  ene- 
tnies  fliall  be  fcattered  ;  let  the  fouls  of  thy  people  be  raifed 
from  the  dufi,  a?id  delivered  from  their  fin,  that  they  may  rejoics 
and  prat fe  thy  name  for  their  deliverance, 

Rio-hteous 


Heart  Preparation,  &c.  ly 

Riqkteous  God  of  life  !  our  eyes  are  unto  thee,  to  fet  forth  thy 
g'ory,  for  thou  haft  made  bare  thine  arm  for  the  falvaticn  of  the 
poor  and  needy  fouls,  and  thou  hafl  been  ftretching  forth  the 
cords  of  thy  love  to  gather  them  that  were  fcattereU  ;  and  haft 
been  bringing  home  to  theCy  thofe  that  were  hurried  away  in 
a  dark  anu  cLudy  day* 

Thou  haft  made  us  fenfible  of  thy  operations;  and  haft  con^ 
frained  thy  fervants  to  labour  in  the  word  and  doBrine^for 
the  gathering  of  fuch  home  ;  that  fo  they  and  we  may  enter 
into  thy  holy  covenant,  and  may  found  forth  thy  praifes  to  the 
ages  and  generations  to  come  :  That  fo.  Holy  God  oj  Life  and 
Live  I  thru  that  haft  faved  us  with  a  marvellous  falvaticn, 
7nayeft  receive  for  all  thy  mercies,  and  blejfngs  to  thy  children^ 
praifes,  glory,  he  nor,  and  thank'^gving  ;  for  thou  alone  art 
vaorthy,^  who  a^t  God  over  all,  blejfd  forever.     Amen. 

SERMON     II. 

Heart  Preparation  for  receiving  the 

Gospel. 

Preached  at  Devonshire-House,  Feb,  12,  j68y, 

IT  is  in  my  heart  at  this  time,  to  defire  that  every  one's 
heart  were  prepared  to  be  made  a  partaker  of  the  ble'"- 
iings  of  the  go'pel ;  for  there  is  a  certain  preparation 
that  every  one  muft  witness  in  themfelves,  before  they  are 
capable  of  receiving  divine  blelTings  ;  for  in  all  ages  of  the 
world,  the  bleflings  of  the  Lord  have  been  manifold,  and  his 
arm  hath  been  always  ftretched  out  in  all  ages,  to  the  fons 
and  daughters  of  men,  that  are  fenfible  of  the  love  he  hath 
unto  them  ;  and  where  the'e  tenders  of  the  love  of  God  have 
met  with  prepared  hearts,  they  have  received  it  to  their  eter- 
nal welfare  :  But  this  hath  been  the  lamentation  that  hath 
been  taken  up  upon  the  greateft  part  of  mankind,  that  they 
have  not  been  prepared  to  receive  the  love  of  God  ;  their 
hearts  and  minds  have  been  fo  filled  with  the  love  of  vifible 
things,  and  carnal  objeds,  that  they  have  not  been  truly  fen- 
iible  of  the  riches  of  the  grace,  mercy,  and  love  of  God  unto 
them,  C 

Now, 


xS  Heart  Preparation  for 

Now,  it  was  laid  of  old  by  the  prophet,  that  the  prepa^ 
ration  of  the  heart  is  of  the  Lord',  and  there  is  fomething  that 
belongs  to  us  on  our  part,  that  we  may  attain  this  prepara- 
tion, that  we  may  be  brought  into  this  fpiritual  frame  of 
mind;  and  that  is,  by  returning  to  the  Lord,  for  people  to 
think  upon  his  name,  and  have  regard  to  his  appearance : 
And  although  this  is  not  the  work  of  nature,  for  by  nature 
the  minds  of  people  are  abroad,  and  they  are  crying  out  as 
the  Pfalmift  fpeaks,  vjho  ivill  fieiv  us  any  good  ?  Yet  to  help 
that  defed,  the  Lord  hath  been  pleafed  to  lend  forth  his  grace 
and  his  truth,  and  to  call  unto  the  ions  and  daughters  of  men, 
that  they  might  feek  after  him,  that  they  might /^^^  the  Lord 
ivhde  he  is  to  be  found  ;  and  they  that  hearken  to  his  voice, 
they  will  readily  confefs,  that  there  is  nothing  doth  fo  well 
fatisfy  an  immortal  foul,  as  to  be  gathered  into  fellowfhip 
with  its  Maker ;  and  that  one  time  or  other,  it  is  the  defire  of 
all  men  and  women,  that  they  might  attain  peace  with  the 
Lord  y  and  they  know  there  is  no  peace  to  the  wicked ;  they 
know  wickednefs  will  remvain  until  it  is  abolifhed  and  de- 
ftroyed;  and  they  know  it  is  not  in  their  power  to  deftroy 
it;  and  therefore  ofnecefiity  there  muft  be  a  waiting  upon 
the  Lord,  who  is  Almighty,  that  he  may  reveal  his  power  in 
our  weaknefs. 

And  they  that  are  thus  prepared  in  their  minds,  meet  reli- 
gloufly  together,  with  expectation  from  God ;  that  he,  accor- 
ding to  his  promise,  will  appear,  and  reveal  his  arm,  and 
do  in  them,  and  for  them,  that  which  they  cannot  do  for 
themfelves ;  this  is  a  fit  occafion  for  people  to  meet  together, 
and  to  have  their  expedation  from  God,  and  fay.  Lord,  thou 
knoweft  my  weaknefs,  and  thou  knoweft  the  enemies  I  have 
to  deal  withal  ;  thou  knoweft  I  am  not  able  to  overcome 
them  :  Therefore  we  are  now  met  together,  in  the  prefenceof 
the  Lord,  to  wait  to  receive  at  his  hands,  that  power,  that 
life,  that  virtue,  by  which  we  may  be  made  more  than  con- 
querors. Such  a  reUgious  meeting  thus  gathered  together, 
hath  a  promife;  Iivill  be  in  the  midji  ofthetn,  faith  the  Lord  ; 
and  therefore,  having  a  promife,  we  may  reafonably  expe6l 
that  we  (hall  be  made  partakers  of  the  living  virtue  and  pow- 
er, by  which  we  may  do  that,  which  of  ourfelves  we  cannot 
da. 

And 


receivir?g  the  Go S PEL,  i^ 

And,  friends,  it  is  my  fours  defire,  that  you  were  all  thus 
qualified,  that  every  one  had  an  evidence  in  himfelf  of  this 
right  preparednefs  ;  for  where  the  eye  is  abroad  upon  any 
vifible  thing,  that  it  feeks  ratisfa<5lion  in  any  thing  below  the 
Lord  himfelf,  it  will  wear  away  and  wax  old.  All  thofe 
objeds  that  people  fix  their  mind  upon,  they  will  wax  old  ; 
but  they  whoiedefires,  and  the  breathings  of  whofe  fouls  are, 
that  they  may  grow  into  acquaintance  with  their  Maker,  ^this 
will  never  wax  old.  When  peoples  minds  are  fixed,  as  the 
people  of  the  Lord  of  old  were,  when  they  made  a  compa- 
nion between  the  flate  of  their  minds,  and  the  minds  of 
others,  and  fignified  it  in  thefe  words,  they  are  faying  ;  they 
are  crying  (that  i%,  they  that  arc  of  the  world)  ivho  willjhew  us 
any  good?  But  for  our  parts,  our  cry  is.  Lord  lift  un  the 
light  of  thy  countenance  upon  us,  and  we  will  be  more  g'ad  of 
tnaty  than  they  can  be  ivith  all  the  increafe  of  corn,  and  wine, 
and  oil. 

Now  they  that  feel  in  themfelves  that  the  reafon  of  their 
meeting  together  is  to  enjoy  the  light  of  God's  countenance, 
and  to  partake  of  the  blemngs  of  God,  they  have  their  ex- 
pedation  from  God,  their  minds  are  retired  into  God;  know- 
ing right  well,  that  if  the  tongues  of  rrxcri  and  angels  are  mov- 
ed to  declare  the  heavenly  and  divine  myflreries  of  the  king- 
dom of  God,  they  cannot  be  edified  or  benefited  by  them  with- 
out the  divine  help  and  aiTiflance  of  God's  Spirit ;  for  there 
is  a  feal  upon  them,  and  none  can  open  that  feal,  but  the 
Lyon  of  the  tribe  o£  Judah  ;  he  only  is  found  worthy  to  unfeal 
the  myflery,  and  unfeal  the  divine  bleffings  that  are  with  the 
Lord  :  So  that  people  muft  come  to  that  retirednefs  of  fpirit, 
to  that  refignation  of  foul,  to  be  as  a  little  child  waiting  upon 
the  Lord,  crying  out  unto  the  Lord,  that  he  will  prepare- 
them,  that  he  ivill  make  them  hungry,  and  then  feed  them^ 
that  he  will  raife  a  thirfl  in  them,  and  then  fatisfy  them  with 
thofe  divine  fprings  of  life,  which  through  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrijt 
are  opened  to  every  one  that  believeth.  So  far  as  your  minds  arc 
flayed  and  fettled  in  waiting  for  the  Lord,  fo  far  you  will  feel 
in  yourfelves  an  opennefs  and  readinefs,  that  if  the  Lord 
fpeaks,  you  are  ready  to  hear  him,  ready  to  fubmit  to  his 
word,  ready  to  obey  him ;  there  will  be  fuch  an  opennefs  in  the 
mind,  not  to  the  words  of  any  man,  but  unto  the  word  of 

God 


io  His  Prayer  after  Sermon. 

God,  to  receive  that ;  for  where  the  words  of  men  are  receiv- 
ed, though  never  (o  excellent,  they  convert  not  the  foul,  i?ut 
the  ivord  of  the  hnrd  is  pure,  converting  the  foul.  And  thi^ 
Word  is  that  which  is  able  to  quicken  tho^^e  that  are  dead  in 
fins  and  tre'paffes,  and  bring  them  to  be  made  partakers  of 
life.  For  it  is  not  an  increa:e  of  knowledge  that  will  do  the 
turn,  but  it  is  the  increase  of  hfe  and  virtue,  the  increase  of 
god.'ine's,  and  fubmitting  our  wills  unto  him  that  m^ade  us : 
It  is  this  that  will  do  our  turn,  this  will  bring  peace  to  the 
foul,  and  bring  us  into  the  favour  of  God,  through  our  Lord 
Je  us  Chrift.  Now,  that  you  may  all  feel  that  which  pre- 
pares the  heart  for  this  refignation,  and  auietnefs,  and  fub- 
jeflion,  you  muft  wait  upon  the  Lord,  that  you  may  be  m^ade 
partakers  of  the  blelTings  of  his  everlafting  go- pel,  and  of  his 
divine  presence:  This  is  that  which  is  mod  profitable,  mod: 
advantageous :  And  then  the  Lord  will  open  to  you  the  windows 
of  He a'^^ en,  and  rain  down  the fe  hie/jings  upon  yon,  whereby 
you  will  be  comforted  and  refreihed,  far  beyond  all  the  works 
that  we  can  do  ',  for  it  is  an  inward  work  that  muft  be  done 
upon  the  ioul,  to  convert  people  that  have  been  alienated  and 
eftranged  from  God,  and  bring  them  to  a  reconciled  ftate, 
through  the  Lord  Je'us  Chrift,  whereby  they  may  partake  of 
the  divine  virtues,  which  iandify  and  juftify  the  loul  in  the 
light  of  God. 

His  Prayer  after  Sermon. 

J^^  0  S  T  glorious  and  powerful  Father  !  thy  arm  of  poiver  is 
made   bare  in    this  our  day,    to    bring  falvation   to   the  poor, 

0  Lcrd  I  thou  haft  lifted  up  the  light  of  thy  countenance  upon 
a  people  that  have  waited  for  thy  glory  and  thy  falvatio72 ;  ^ 
little  remnant  whom  the  good  of  this  world  could  not  fatisfy  ;  but 
O  Lord  I  in  an  acceptable  time,  thou  haft  brought  thy  fahation 
near  ;  and  the  light  and  brightnefs  of  the  everlafting  gofpely 
thou  haft  commanded  to  ftime  into  the  hearts  and  folds  of  the 
mourners  and  boived^doivn  ones,  ivho  are  feeking  the  living  God^ 
not  arnohg  the  outward  forms  and  vc  ays  of  men. 

But,  O  bleffed  Father  of  Life  I  thou  haft  now  brought  us  to  the 
day  of  thy  power,  and  bovjed  our  wills,  and  made  us  a  willing 
people  therein  to  ferve  thee^  and  to  do  thy  ivill  on  earth,  as  it  ts 

dene 


His  Prayer  after  Sermon.  2t 

done  in  Heaven  ;  and  for  that  end,  O  Lord,  thou  hafl  put  it  in» 
to  the  hearts  of  thy  people  to  wait  npcn  thee,  in  vchom  all  our 
frefa  fprings  are,  that  from  thee  we  may  receive  the  renewing  of 
power  from  day  to  day. 

In  all  the  hours  of  our  temptations  and  trials,  cur  eyes,  O 
Lord,  have  been  to  thee  and  to  thy  power  ;  and  ive  acknowlerge,  ta 
the  glory  of  thy  power  and  goodnefs,  that  thou  hafl  been  a  God 
nigh  at  hand,  when  we  have  been  feeking  thee,  and  truflingi>Hn 
tkee,fo  that  we  are  a  people  fe-jible  of  thy  power  and  pnfc?ict 
with  us  ;  for  that  eye  ivhich  thai  keepcfi  open  to  thy  ch^idreti 
it  brings  thy  gory  to  ourvieWy  and  jhews  it  breakirg  forth  over 
the  nations  ;  and  ive  have  g^-eat  joy  and fatisfa^hon  in  beholding 
the  prcgrefs  of  thy  mighty  poiver  in  our  day,  hoxv  thou  hafl 
broken  down  ana  confounded^  and  an  ft  ill  brc^ckirg  dovcn  and 
confounding,  all  the  dark  im.cigtnations  and  devices  of  the  fens 
and  daughters  of  men,  that  have  cc/ifpired  to  hinder  the  break- 
ing forth  of  the  glory  cf  thy  Son,  Chrifl  Jefus. 

O  povjerfui  God  of  Life  I  arife  tnore  and  mere  in  th-f 
g^-eatnefs  of  thy  povoer  and  love,  and  make  knovjn  thy  ccimfe\ 
and  thy  will  among  the  inhabitants  cf  the  earth  ;  and  bow  their 
7ntnds,  0  Lord!  and  their  ivills,  that  none  may  dare  to  withfland 
thy  appearance,  left  they  be  found  fighters  againfl  God^  and  de- 
ft royers  of  t  hem f elves. 

O  powerful  Father  I  for  this  end,  make  bare  thine  arm  tintd 
the  rulers  and  governors  of  thefe  nations,  that  they  may  kncvj 
thy  counfels,  and  bovj  to. thy  heavenly  wiV,  and  ynay  prom.cte 
thy  law  of  rtghteoufnefs  in  their  ov:n  hearts,  and  the  hearts  cf 
others  ;  that  by  thy  poiver,  a  blejTed  reformation  m.cy  be  wrought^ 
and  a  flop  put  to  iniquity  ;  that  it  may  not  run  down  in  a 
mighty  f^' eat fi,  as  it  hath  done  m  time  pafl  ;  but  that  truth  and 
righteoufnefs,  and  fund  jugment  may  be  known  in  the  earth  : 
1  hat  they  that  hunger  and  tfnrfl  after  right eoufnefs,  may  have 
their  fouh  defires  fatisfied ;  and  fo  praife  and  thankfgivings 
jhall  arife  from  their  fouls  to  thee. 

O  powerful  Father  of  Life  I  preferve  and  keep  thy  children^ 
whom  thou  hafl  gathered,  and  purged,  and  purified,  and  to  wko?n 
thou  hafl  made  knovjn  the  way  of  life,  and  made  them  a  willing 
people  in  the  day  of  thy  power,  to  do  thy  will,  and  to  wait  for 
the  coming  of  that  kingdom  that  th"u  hafl  promifed  to  eflablifli 
under  Ckrifl  Jefus^the  King  of  Kings  and  Lord  of  Lords  ;  and 

that 


^2  The  First  and  Great  Commandment, 
that  it  limy  grow,  afid  i?icreafey  and  be  fpread  abroad  iipofi 
the  earthy  and  let  every  one  defire  to  be  the  fuhjeB  thereof. 
Poiverful  Father  of  Life  1  the  arra  of  thy  power  and  in- 
vifible  flreJigth  hath  been  revealed y  that  nothing  hath  been  able 
to  refift  orjtand  agai7?Ji  and  prevail,  by  which  thou  art  planting 
Zion  and  building  JevnfsLlcmy  and  eflablijhing  it :  By  the  fame 
povjer^  let  thy  work  be  carried  ony  and  let  many  be  brought  in  to 
be  fubjeB  to  Chrifl,  for  the  good  of  their  immortal  fouls  :  As 
thou  haft  multiplied  thy  blefjrngs  upon  uSy  fo  frotn  day  to  day 
then  haft  made  us  fenfible  cf  thy  love  unto  us,  ovjnijzg  us  to 
le  thy  children  and  peculiar  people^  by  thy  prefence  in  the  midfi 
cfus^  whenever  vje  meet  in  thy  name  to  wait  upon  thee^  that  fo, 
Living  Fathery  all  thine,  both  here  and  every  wherCy  may  be 
encouraged  to  attend  upon  thee,  aud  to  be  faithful  to  thy  power  ; 
that  waiti?ig  for  the  opening  of  thy  counfels,  and  the  enlighten" 
ing  their  underflandings,  they  may  be  able  to  comprehend^  with 
all  faint Sy  the  height y  and  depth,  and  length,  and  breadth  of  thy 
love  in  thrift  Jefus  ;  that  in  the  fenfe  of  the  freenefs  and 
greatnefs  thereof,  all  thy  children  here  and  every  where,  that 
in  an  everlajling  covenant  of  grace  thou  haft  gathered  to  thy- 
felf,  may  have  communion  with  thee  and  thy  Son  and  Spirit ; 
and  may  return  thee  the  honor,  glory,  and  praife  of  all  thy  love, 
and  mercy,  and  grace  ;  for  thou  alone  artvoorthy,  who  art  God 
over  ally  bleffcd  forever  and  ever.     Amen. 

SERMON     III. 

The  First    ojid  Great   CoxMMandment. 

Preached  at  DEVGNSHIRE-HouSEy  May  27,    iGEE. 

HEN  God  gave  forth  his  Lav:  on  Mount  Sinai, 
which  Ifrael  was  to  hear  and  obey,  the  firft  and 
great  commandment  was,  thou  Jlialt  have  no  other 
Gods  before  me.  Here  is  the  Turn  and  fubftance  of  all  true  reli^ 
gion  that  ever  was  upon  earth  to  this  day.  All  the  command- 
ments, all  the  precepts,  prophecies,  and  all  the  deaHngs  of 
God  with  his  people,  from  that  day  to  this,  have  all  been 
contained  in  this  Ihort  precept,  thou  JJiait  have  no  other  Gods 

but 


The  First  and  Great  Commandment.  2j 
kit  we.  And  as  long  as  Ifrael  flood  in  obedience  to  this 
command,  their  blefllngs  were  multiplied  upon  them,  their 
good  things  were  increafed  from  day  to  day  ;  the  Lord  was 
with  them,  as  long  as  they  were  willing  to  be  his  people  j 
he  appeared  as  their  God,  and  as  their  defender  wrought 
their  deliverances,  fought  all  their  battles  for  them,  gave 
them  dominion  andftrengrh,  courage  and  wifdom  ;  miniftered 
out  of  his  treafiiry  all  good  things  unto  them  ;  for  ^^he 
great  care  of  God  Almighty  was  with  all  his  people,  he  had 
regard  to  them,  and  vifited  them  at  all  times,  to  keep  them 
from  idolatry  j  I  am,  faith  he,  a  jealous  God,  take  notice  of 
me  to  be  fo  ;  I  am  jealous  of  my  name  j  if  thou  wilt  be 
mine,  thou  ftialt  have  no  other  Gods  but  me. 

And  all  the  precepts  about  offerings  and  facrifices,  and 
making  atonement  for  finners,  and  the  divers  fervices  and 
worfhip,  the  various  offices  in  the  temple  and  fan^iuary^ 
they  were  all  outward  means  appointed  of  God,  to  keep  this 
outward  church  in  an  inward  conformity  to  the  command 
of  God.  This  command  was  written  in  tables  of  ftone, 
and  thefe  tables  were  laid  up  in  the  ark  of  God,  and  all  this 
appertained  to  the  firfl  covenant,  and  typed  and  figured  out  the 
diipenfation  of  the  new  and  everlafting  covenant  that  God 
would  make  with  his  people,  not  like  unto  the  old:  How 
not  like  it  ?  Not  like  it  in  the  outward  fliadows,  the  types 
and  Ihadows  of  things,  but  he  would  bring  forth  the  fubftance 
of  ail  \ho(Q  fhadovjs  and  types,  and  would  alter  the  form  and 
outward  appearance  of  things  ',  for  as  God  is  unchangeable,  fo 
is  his  law  unchangeable. 

Mofes  faith,  the  firft  and  great  commandment  is,  Thou  fhalt 
have  no  other  Gods  but  me.  This  was  put  into  the  ftone 
tables.  Chrifl:  Jefus  faith,  the  firft  and  great  commandment 
is.  Thou  ftialt  love  the  Lord  thy  God  with  all  thy  foul,  and  with 
^ll  thy  mind.  Matt,  xxii,  ly.  This  is  put  into  the  tables  of 
the  heart.  So  here  is  a  difference  between  the  firft  command- 
ment by  Mofes,  and  the  firft  commandment  by  Chrifl  ;  they 
both  acknowledge  the  firft  and  great  command  to  be  the  fub- 
jeding  of  the  creature  to  him  that  made  him,  as  his  God,  that 
he  may  only  ferve  him,  and  that  he  may  love  him  with  his 
whole  heart :  The  Jeiv  could  prove  this  by  his  Jto?ie  tables, 
and  Chrift  proves  this  by  the  flefhiy  tables  of  the  heart,  for 

there 


24        "^'^^  First  and  Great  C o m m and ment, 
there  he  is  bound  to  love  the  Lord  with  his  whole  heart,  and 
to  :  erve  him  only  ;  Inm  only  fhah  thou  ferie. 

Now,  here  the  Jews  law  is  brought  over  to  the  Chriflians, 
in  the  greateft  point  of  religion  that  ever  was  preached  ',  fhuts 
out  all  idolacry,  all  fuperftition,  all  variety  of  rehgions ;  all  is 
Ihut  out  by  this  commandment,  and  the  Chriftian  that  hath 
the  law  written  in  his  heart,  according  to  the  new  covenant, 
he^:an  go  as  readily  to  it  and  read  it,  as  ever  the  Jew  could 
go  to  his Jtone  taa'e,  and  read  the  law  there  ',  you  cannot  de- 
ny, that  if  there  be  a  thing  written  and  engraven  in  my  heart, 
I  can  go  as  readily  to  it  as  I  can  go  to  any  book  or  table,  tho* 
I  have  the  keeping  of  it  :  But  the  Jews  had  not  the  keeping  of 
it,  for  generally  it  was  laid  up  in  the  ^r/i  cf  God. 

Now,  friends,  that  which  lies  upon  m.y  mind  to  fpeak  to 
you  at  this  time,  and  that  out  of  the  great  love  that  I  have  to 
all  your  precious  and  immortal  -!ouls,  as  God  hath  had  love  to 
f/::ae,  is,  that  you  would  all  conlider  and  weigh  in  the  fear  of 
the  Lord,  who'e  pre''ence  is  among  us,  which  of  you,  and 
how  many  of  you  are  come  to  the  obeiience  of  this  com- 
mandment :  I  do  not  doubt  but  the  moft  of  you  can  (ay  them 
^.'7,  but  a  happy  people  are  }  ou  if  you  can  do  one  :  I  dare 
pronounce  that  ioul  a  bleffed  foul,  that  can  perform  this  one 
commandment,  that  can  or  dare  ftand  before  his  Maker,  and 
fay,  O  Lord  I  I  love  thee  with  all  my  hearty  votth  all  ?ny  foul, 
and  vjith  all  my  might ;  my  love  is  withdrawn  from  all  other 
things  in  companion  of  thee;  there  is  nothing  in  this  whole 
world  hath  a  place  in  my  mind,  but  as  it  is  in  fubjedion  to 
the  love  of  thee. 

Here  is  the  firft  and  great  commandment,  the  unchangeable 
law,  the  laiv  that  was  gjod  in  M  fes'  days,  and  good  in 
Chnft's  days,  and  it  holds  good  in  our  days;  and  indeed  it  is 
fuch  a  definitive  law,  that  the  breakers  of  it  can  neither  be 
good  Jews,  nor  good  Chrtftians.  There  is  an  abfoiute  necef- 
fity  lies  upon  us,  cf  abftrading  and  drawmg  away  our  minds 
and  fouls  from  all  other  gods,  from  all  images  and  other  de- 
pendencies and  trufts  that  people  are  naturally  liable  to  truft 
to,  and  to  have  their  whole  confidence  fet  upon  the  Lord^ 
but  alas !  with  grief  of  heart  I  fpeak  it,  there  are  but  very 
few  that  as  yet  have  known  the  right  giving  forth  of  the  law, 
and  there  are  fewer  that  a,re  fubjed  to  it.     This  law  was  not 

given 


The  First  and  Great  Commant>ment.  2^ 
^iven  forth  at  firft  without  thunder  and  lightening,  and  a 
terAble  noife,  and  the  mountain  imoking  (be  that  hath  an 
ear  to  hear,  let  him  hear)  itironlueh  as  Mjls  himielf  ^aid,  he 
feared  greatly,  and  he  quaked  e5-:ceedingly,  becaufe  of  the 
thunder  oi  the  Almighty,  and  the  mountain  that  fmoked 
and  burnt  v/ith  nre,  fo  that  IJrael  could  not  draw  nigh. 

Now  I  fay,  there  are  :>ut  a  few  that  have  come  to  the 
knov/ledge  of  the  giving  forth  of  this  law,  that  have  certainly 
known  thofe  thunders,  and  that  terrible  work  that  the  Lord 
of  the  whole  earth  makes,  when  he  comes  to  fet  up  his  law; 
for  a  great  many  that  have  come  nigh  to  it,  and  might  h?ve 
heard  and  received  the  words  of  the  law  of  God,  they  have 
gone  backward,  they  have  done  like  unto  the  Jews  of  pld^ 
thousii  thev  had  fufFered  much,  and  f^one  through  much,  and 
had  (een  the  wonders  of  the  Lord  j  how  he  had  led  them  and 
delivered  them ;  yet  when  it  came  to  this,  that  they  mufi: 
hear  the  voice  of  God,  they  faid  we  cannot  bear  it ;  we  can- 
not endure  it :  We  have  deviled  for  ourfelves  an  cafier  way  y 
for  the  voice  of  thunder  and  dreadful  noifes,  put  them  into  ter- 
ror and  quaking,  and  trembling,  and  great  dread  came  upon 
them  j  but  we  have  found  an  eafier  way,  fay  they  j  what  '1$ 
that  ?  Go  then,  faid  they  to  Mofes,  and  hear  thou  what  the 
Lordfaitky  and  come  thou  and  tell  us,  thou  fiialt  be  a  Mediator 
bet'v'/een  us ;  let  God  fpeak  unto  thee,  and  do  thou  (peak  the 
fame  to  us,  and  we  v.  ill  hear  thee. 

Thus  the  Jews  that  were  not  come  beyond  the  law  of  God 
written  in  taMes  cfficne,  they  would  not  come  to  receive  it  in 
their  hearts,  as  the  Chriftian  muft;  fo  M^fes  received  iVih 
law  from,  the  mouth  of  God,  and  he  was  faithful  as  a  fervant  in 
the  houfe  of  God,  and  he  miniftered  forth  the  law  of  God,  his 
precepts,  ftatutes  and  judgments,  and  teftimonies;  and  he 
made  them  a  book  of  laws  for  all  of  them  to  walk  by,  from  the 
higheil:  to  the  lowed: ;  how  they  fhould  ad:  in  criminal  mctters^ 
and  to  do  juflice  between  man  and  man,  and  what  they  ihould 
do  in  the  worfhip  of  God,  and  what  they  fhould  do  towards 
the  prieft,  whofe  hps  fhould  preserve  knowledge  for  them  ;  and 
fo  he  brought  up  a  form  of  religion  j  but  his  work  was  accor- 
ding to  the  precepts  of  God  ;  and  he  brought  them  into  the 
form  of  national  religion,  and  government,  and  national 
Jaws.      And  fo  Mofes  and  the  prieft  ruled  over  them  ,  and 

D  the 


2G      The  First  and  Great  Commandment. 

the  pricft  offered  facrifice  for  them,  and  made  atonement  for 
them,  and  Aiofes  enquired  of  the  Lord,  and  asked  council  for 
them,  and  taught  and  inftructed  them  ;  and  what  became  of 
all  this  at  laft  ?  When  this  was  done,  the  prieft  made  atone- 
ment for  fm,  buthe  could  not  pluck  av/ay  the  guilt  of  one  fin  ; 
there  remained  the  confcience  of  fin  after  he  had  made  his  of- 
fering ;  and  Mofes  taught  them  the  counfels  of  God,  and 
the  commands  of  God,  but  he  could  not  bind  their  hearts  to 
the  obedience  of  them  y  for  he  declared  openly  againft  them, 
that  they  were  a  rebellious  and  ftiff-necked  people ^  notwith- 
flanding  they  had  a'  law  without  them.  Indeed,  time  would 
fail  me  to  run  through  the  manifold  mifcarriages  of  the 
church  of  the  Jews,  in  refped  of  their  idolatry,  in  refped  of 
their  contem^pt  and  rebelhon,  both  to  God  and  his  fervant 
Mofes,  who  was  to  teach  and  to  guide  them  :  I  fay,  the 
time  v/ould  fail  me  to  mention  the  manifold  mifcarriages  that 
happened  am.ong  this  people,  that  had  a  law  and  religion  with- 
out them,  and  a  teacher  without  them. 

Now  in  the  fulnefs  of  time  it  pleafed  God  in  fending  his 
Son,  Chrift  Jefus,  to  raife  up  a  prophet  like  unto  Mofes ^  m 
reiped;  of  faithfulnefs,  though  higher  in  refped  of  dignity  ; 
for  Mofes  was  faithful  in  all  his  houfe  as  a  fervant,  but  this 
man  was  faithful  as  a  fon  in  his  own  houfe,  in  the  houfc 
that  he  was  heir  of,  that  houfe  wherein  he  was  as  King, 
even  a  pried,  a  prophet,  and  a  ruler  in.  When  the  Lord 
fignified  by  the  fpirit  of  prophecy,  the  coming  of  the  Juji 
OrJe^  he  iignifed  to  the  people  that  his  miniftry  fliould 
jiot  be  as  txhat  of  Aaron  ;  the  people  fhould  not  have  their 
religion  without  them,  and  their  laws  and  precepts  v/ith- 
out  them,  and  their  priefts  without  them.,  and  their  wor- 
iliip  and  church  without  them  ;  but  that  they  fhould  have 
it  all  within  them.  Iivill  write  my  law  in  their  hearts,  I  will 
J}iit  it  into  their  inward  j^arts,  then  they  fnall  be  my  people, 
and  I  vcill  be  their  God,  and  they  /hall  not  forfake  me.  Your 
fathers  brake  my  old  covenant,  but  I  will  make  a  new  cove- 
nant in  the  latter  days,  a  new  covenant,  not  like  that  your 
fathers  broke  ;  they  brake  the  law  without  them,  but  I  ivill 
write  my  laiv  in  their  hearts  ;  this  prophet  that  is  like  to  Mo- 
fes, he  fiall  teach  my  people,  he /hall  be  a  leader  to  them,  and 
guide  them  in  the  way  they  are  to  go,  and  /liall  be  a  captain  for 

tketny 


The  First  and  Great  Commandment.  2^7 
them,  to  lead  them  to  fahation  ;  and  it  jJiallcome  to  pafs,  in  the 
day  that  I  do  this,  if  there  be  any  that  will  not  hear  him,  he  fliall 
be  cut  off' from  among  the  people.  That  is,  the  judgment  that 
comes  upon  the  contemners  of  the  gofpel,  upon  them  that 
will  not  hear  Chrift  Jefiis,  they  (hall  be  cut  off  from  the  peo- 
ple ;  from  what  people  ?  From  the  people  of  God  ;  they 
fhall  have  no  part  of  the  privileges  that  are  enjoyed  thro* 
Chrift ;  they  fhall  be  cut  off  from  the  benefits  that  others 
reap  by  their  faith  in  Chrift. 

So  that  now  we  are  to  expcd  the  operation  and  v/ork- 
ing  of  a  miniftry,  that  leads  a  people  to  an  inward  re- 
ligion, a  heart  rehgion,  where  the  heart  is  fixed  entirely 
upon  the  true  and  living  God,  as  the  objed  of  their  de- 
pendence and  truft  ;  and  they  have  no  other.  This  is  a' 
ftrange  word  to  fle(h  and  blood  ;  what,  no  other  depen- 
dence than  on  the  invifible  God  ?  Fiefh  and  blood,  and 
fenfuality,  can  never  come  to  this ;  this  is  a  religion  that 
hath  been  hid  from  ages  and  generations,  and  will  be  hid 
to  all  ages  that  ever  fnall  be  in  the  world,  where  fenfuality 
prevails.  What,  will  you  have  me  to  have  my  whole  depen- 
dence for  the  comfort  of  my  Ufe  here,  and  of  the  life  that  is  to 
come,  the  other  Ufe,  to  have  my  dependence  upon  an  in- 
vifible God,  that  invifible  power  that  made  me,  and  cre- 
ated the  world  ?  How  is  it  poiTible  for  me  to  fequefter 
myfelf,  and  draw  myfelf  off  from  all  vifible  objects  ?  I 
muft  truft  to  this,  and  truft  to  that  :  Flefti  and  blood  caa 
never  attain  to  this,  with  all  the  wit  and  reafon  it  hath; 
it  can  never  feparate  itfelf  from  idols ;  they  are  little  chil- 
dren ;  they  are  children  of  another  birth, 'born  of  another 
feed,    that  keep  themfelves  from  idols. 

Friends,  idolatry  is  a  great  deal  more  common,  I  find, 
than  moft  are  aware  of.  Am  I  commanded  to  love  the 
Lord  ivith  all  my  heart,  and  foul,  and  mind,  and  might  ? 
\^liat  is  left  when  the  whole  is  taken  away?  If  God  hath 
my  whole  heart,  what  have  I  to  beftow  upon  the  world  ? 
What  love,  what  aifedion,  what  eagernefs,  what  fervency- 
can  I  beftow  upon  the  v/orld,  or  any  objed  in  the  world, 
when  my  whole  heart,  and  foul,  and  mind,  is  gone  be- 
fore, is  gone  toward  the  Lord  ? 

This  is  the  firft  and  gre^t  commandment  ;  and  the  fe- 

•  cond 


28       The  First  and  Great  Cqmmant^meut. 

cond  is  like  unto  it,  that  is,  thru  fhah  Im^e  thy  Tieigkhour 
as  thyfelf.  Here  it  is  that  the  law  and  the  prophets,  faith, 
creeds,  prayer,  religion  and  worfnip,  all  that  ever  ^^as  in 
the  v/orld,  all  are  comprehended  in  thi<?,  thou  jlialt  Icve 
the  Lord  thy  God  ivhh  all  thy  heart,  fad  and  ftrergthy 
and  thy  7ie^ghbrur  as  thyfelf.  So  vdiat  need  is  ^ere  for 
us  to  be  difputir.g  about  religion  ;  about  this  tenet,  and 
the  ocher  tenet  ;  tliis  text,  and  the  other  te^t  ?  For  my 
par:,  I  ihould  only  defire  you  to  underhand  this  text, 
and  I  ihould  not  doubt  your  going  to  Heaven.  Here  is 
the  fum  j  here  is  all  at  once  ;  here  is  the  quinteffence  of 
dl  religion,  of  ail  types,  fhadows,  figures,  ceremonies  and 
prie(r-hood,  and  all  that  ever  was  or  could  be  nrmed  and 
pradifed  in  the  world;  all  brought  to  this,  the  heart giv* 
.^n  up  to- God ;  our  love  fet  upon  him. 
I  What,  is  this  fufficient,  will  fome  fay  ?  This  will  make 
you  a  good  moral  man  ;  but  what  i,9  this  to  theChriflian 
religion  ?  You  may  be  led  into  error,  and  become  a  he- 
re :ic  for  all   this. 

Hew  can  this  be,  that  I  ihould  not  be  of  a  found  faith, 
but  led  into  error  and  herefy  for  all  this  ?  When  people  let  in 
error,  and  hereby,  and  un^oundne'^s  of  faith,  where  do  they 
let  it  in?  Do'  they  not  let  in  the  principles  of  error  and 
hereA/  into  their  Hearts?  I  believe  this,  and  that,  and  the 
other  error,  that  it  comes  into  the  heart,  and  hath  a  feat 
in  the  heart  ;  but  how  can  we  let  it  into  the  heart,  ivhen 
the  heart  is  given  up  to  Gcd  ?  Cannot  I  keep  out  error 
and  hgrefy,  if  \  give  Up  my  heart  and  foul  to  him  ?  Cannot 
I  truft  him  with  all  ? 

This  kind  of  talk  of  error  and  herefy  hath  come  among 
iDen  that  have  had  tlie  keeping  of  their  own  fouls :  They 
have  taken  their  ov/n  fouL  into  their  own  hands,  and  have 
ordered  their  religion  themfeives,  or  have  had  fome- 
body  to  order  it  for  them  ;  and  a  great  many  of  them 
have  met  together  to  make  creeds,  and  catechiTms,  and 
confedions,  and  orthodox  dodrines,  that  m.ight  certainly 
be:  profciFed  and  fubfcribed.  So  afterv/ards  fome  have  come 
and  found  fault  with  them  j  then  they  muft  have  a  coun- 
cil to  try  them  ;  then  the'e  go  off  and  are  laid  afide,  and 
others  are  given  in  the  room  of  them  i  fo  that  thefe  men 

have 


The  First  and  Great  Commandment.      2^ 

have  fet  up  for  themfelves.  Thcfe  would  not  be  under 
the  government  and  prefcription  of  God,  as  children  un- 
der the  government  of  a  father;  but  they  will  fet  up  re- 
ligions themfelves,  and  fay  to  the  reft  of  the  world,  if 
you  own  any  thing  contrary  to  our  principles,  you  are 
a  heretic ;  and  being  a  heretic,  you  are  to  be  rooted  out 
and  cut  off.  Do  not  you  read  in  the  fcripture,  that  vjhover 
hears  not  the  Prophet  that  ivas  to  come  into  the  ivorld,  fliculd 
he  an  off  ?  What,  will  not  you  hear  Chrift  fpeak  in  the 
church  ?  \7'\\\  not  you  hear  Chrift  fpeak  ?  The  church 
cannot  fpeak  without  a  head  ;  if  you  will  not  hear  the 
church,  you  niuft  be  cut  off.  Then  they  have  fallen  to 
hanging,  and  burning,  and  killing,  and  deftroying  people, 
and  nations  not  a  few  :  And  this  comes  from  their  mak- 
ing faiths,  and  creeds,  and  ordering  religion  themfelves  : 
All  their  barbarous  and  inhuman  cruelties,  martyring  and 
dungeoning  people,  comes  from  their  making  faiths  them- 
felves ;  and  of  all  things  nothing  is  more  defperatelv  wicked, 
and  they  did  not  know  it.  The  heart  is  deceitful  above 
all  thiyzgs,  and  defperately  nicked^  who  can  knovj  it  ?  Men 
knov/  not  how  proud  and  arrogant  they  themfelves  are,  and 
yet  they  would  be  ordering  the  hearts,  p^nd  'minds,  and  con- 
ic iences  of  others ;  and  out  of  this  hath  fprung  all  ^w^ 
perftition  and  idolatry,  becaufe  men  would  not  give  up 
their  heart:  to  God  ,*  thmi  fkalt  have  no  other  Gods  but  yne. 
This  commandment  is  great  in  itfelf ;  ftrid:  in  the  terms  j 
thou  [halt  love  the  Lord  thy  God  ivith  all  thy  hearty  and 
thy  neighbour  a$  thy f elf.  Their  neighbours  could  not  fee 
with  their  eyes  ;  therefore  they  would  be  hanging,  and 
burning",  and  deftroving  one  another. 

But,  bleffed  be  God,  who  is  now  bringing  forth  true  Chrif- 
tianity  upon  its  old  bafis  and  foundation,  whereon  it  xfas 
placed  at  £rft,  for  Chriftianity  hath  been  juftlcd  off  from  its 
firft  foundation  ;  for  inftead  of  loving  God  with  all  their 
hearts,  and  loving  their  neighbours  as  themfelves,  they  hated 
them  :  Now  this  is  the  day,  O  friends  !  t'le  weight  of  it  is 
great ;  this  I  fay  is  the  day  wherein  God  is  bringing  Chrif- 
tianity  upon  its  old  foundation. 

I  would  not  have  you  think  that  I  am  here  judging  our 
fore-fathers,  that  are  fallen  afleep,  that,  therefore,  thev  are 

gone 


ja  The  First- and  Great  Commandment, 
gone  to  Hell,  becaufe  they  faw  not  this  day,  and  lived  not 
to  fee  that  benefit  of  it  that  we  enjoy;  I  am  Jar  from  it :  This 
\^'as  the  thing  that  they  beheved  and  prated  to  God  for ;  they 
did  not  fee  this  day  outwardly,  but  they  faw  it  by  faith. 
When  I  was  a  child,  I  remember  the  people  of  God,  when 
they  met  three  or  four  together,  they  would  rejoice  in  the 
hopes  of  what  they  forefaw  ;  they  gave  thanks  to  God  for  the 
bleiTed  days  that  he  would  bring  ibruh,  though  thcv  could  not 
tell  when  y  they  did  fay,  and  believe,  that  God  would  fcatter 
the  fogs,  and  miPcs,  and  bring  forth  a  happy  day,  wherdn 
his  people  fhould  have  the  gift  of  his  Spirit  :  Tv'hen  thev  faw 
the  impofitions  and  perfecutions  of  thofe  times,  when  they 
that  did  not  conform,  and  comply,  were  caft  into  prifons,  dun- 
geons and  gaols  ',  well,  it  will  not  always  be  thus,  fay  they, 
there  is  a  day  coming,  wherein  the  Lord  will  fet  his  people 
free  fi'oraall  the  yokes  of  oppreffion,  and  from  the  oppreffon 

indeed,  mv  foul  did  rejoice  in  hearing  thg  prophetical 
fayings  of  thoe  good  m.en,  and  I  thought  1  might  live  to  fee 
that  day.  Bleffed  be  God  that  hath  preferved  my  life  to  this 
day,  and  to  this  hour,  to  enjoy  what  they  prayed  for  :  They 
prayed  to  God  to  fcatter  the  mifls  and  fogs,  that  they  might 
no  longer  cloud  and  darken  men's  minds,  and  hinder  them 
flom  enjoying  God's  teaching.  BleiTed  be  God,  that  we  are 
now  in  the  enjoyment  of  the  prayers  of  the  faithful,,  that  left 
the  world  before  ^'e  were  in  it.  Now  the  day  is  come  that  . 
they  prayed  for,  and  enquired  afcer. 

How  frrangely  doth  the  man  talk,  will  fome  fay,  concern- 
ing the  Chrifbian  religion  j  the  Chriftian  religion  is  ail  ^fig- 
land  ever  ;  go  to  any  meeting  in  London,  except  one,  and  they 
will  tell  you  they  are  Chriilians  ,*  I  would  to  God  they  were ; 
that  is  thie  worft  I  w"iih  them  all.  But  what  fhould  v/e  talk  of 
the  Chriflian  religion  without  the  Chriftian  life?  except  .we 
find  that  amoneft  them,  v/hat  fienifies  the  nam.e  and  profeffion 
of  it  ?  And  the  Chriftian  dodrine  is  wanting  in  many  places 
too.  There  is  many  in  this  cii;y,  ^^'g^^^g  this  very  command,, 
cf  loving  God  with  all  their  hearts,  and  their  neighbours  as 
themfelves,  as  fervently  as  I  can  do,  or  any  body  elfe ;  and 
yet  they  will  tell  you  in  the  next  breatli,  that  no  man  in  London^ 
nor  in  the  world,  can  do  this  ;  no  man  can  poffibly  love 
God  with  all  his  heart ,  never  a  man  can  be  found  that  can  • 

perfji'm 


The  First  and  Great  Commandment,  jr 
perform  fuch  an  ad,  as  to  love  his  neighbour  as  himfelf : 
Not  every  pxcighbour,  it  may  be,  but  fome  one  choice  affbciate 
he  may  pick  out,  that  he  can  love,  and  bear  with  his  infirmi- 
ties and  affronts,  and  love  him  as  himfelf;  /ot;^  thy  neighbour, 
that  is  every  body,  that  there  may  be  a  good-will  for  all  peo- 
ple throughout  the  whole  race  of  mankind,  f^eace  c?i  earthy 
good-will  towards  men  :  This  is  the  fruit  of  the  gofpel.  Chrif- 
tian  words  will  not  make  the  Chriftian  religion,  there  mufl 
be  a  Chriftian  life  ;  but  where  fhail  we  find  that,  or  feek  it  ? 

I  know  not,  I  have  nothing  to  do  to  judge  any  body,  but 
there  is  one  that  judgeth  who  it  is  that  liveth  the  Chriftian 
life,  and  who  doth  not  ?  "^'ho  is  this  ?  what  one  is  this  ? 
The  HEAD  of  the  Chriftian  church  :  W^hy,  is  he  here  ?  Yes, 
the  head  of  the  Chriftian  church  is  here,  and  he  fpeaks  and 
gives  fentence;  if  you  have  an  ear  you  may  hear  him,  and  if 
you  will  turn  your  mind  inward,  for  he  is  an  inward  minijler^ 
every  one  of  you,  if  you  will  turn  your  minds  inward,  he  will 
tell  you  whether  you  live  a  Chriftian  life,  and  what  Z^/f  it 
is  vou  live  :  If  there  be  a  drunkard  here,  let  him  ask  whether 
his  hfe  be  a  Chriftian  life  ;  will  a  m.an  go  away  ignorant  from 
this  place,  and  have  no  anfwer?  If  there  be  a  drunkard  here, 
let  him  ask  inwardly  in  his  own  boibm.  Lord  is  my  life 
a  Chriftian  life  ?  I  dare  affirm,  on  God's  behalf,  he  will  have 
an  anfwer,  no,  thy  life  is  not  a  Chriftian  life,  but  a  Ihameful, 
beaftly  Ufe,  a  brutifh  one. 

Who  told  you  that  the  Head  of  Chriftians,  Chrift  Jefus, 
is  prefcnt  ?  Chrift  Jefus,  is  he  prefent  ?  How  came  he  here  ? 
He  is  afcended  up  into  Heaven  fuch  a  day,  fay  they,  how 
came  he  here?  Let  him  be  afcended  up  mto  Heaven,  yet  he 
is  not  fo  afcended  into  Heaven  as  not  to  be  here  alfo  j  how 
fliould  he  fulfil  his  promife,  if  he  be  circumfcribed  in  Heaven 
or  earth?  How  ftiould  he  make  good  his  promife,  if  when 
Huo  or  three  are  inet  together  in  his  name^  he  is  not  in  the  midji 
ofthe?n  ?  Here  now  are  many  more  than  two  or  three  met 
together  in  the  name  of  Chrift,  and  that  hope  for  acceptance 
with  God,  through  the  Mediator,  Chrift  Jefus ;  if  you  think 
that  here  are  two  or  three  met  together  in  the  name  of  Chrift, 
it  follows  that  Chrift  is  in  the  midft  of  them. 

I  knov/  not  v/hat  you  may  enjoy,  fome  may  pofTibly  fay, 
I  do  not  find  any  fuch  prefePiCe  of  Chrift  ',  I  hear  of  the  pre- 

fence 


J 2       The  First  and  Great  Commant>ment, 
fcPiCe  of  Chrifc  in  the  facrairsent,  and  I  have  heard  talk  of  the 
prefence  of  Chrift  at  a  mee:lng,  but  I  have  been' at  many  a 
meetings  and  I  never  found  fuch  a  prefence  of  Chriil:. 

Can  you  read  the  fcriptures  ?  Yes,  I  can  read  the  fcriptures 
as  well  as  you  but  that  cannot  give  me  a  {c\-\^t  of  it  j  I  do 
read  the  fcriptures  and beheve them;  but  what  (igfulies  my  read- 
ing the  fcriptures  concerning  the  prefence  of  Chrift,  if  I 
iiave  not  a  ^^QvXt  of  it  ?  I  have  been  at  many  a  meeting,  but 
never  had  the  fenfe  of  fuch  a  Divine  Preierce  as  ycu  talk  of, 
nor  it  may  be  at  the  facrament  neither :  V^'^hat  is  the  reafox^ 
thou  hall:  no  fenfe  of  it?  If  thou  ^?c^ilt  take  mv  counfel,  and 
turn  thy  mind  inxrard,  and  enquire  whether  the  thing  I  fpeak 
of  be  true,  whether  there  be  fuch  a  voice  as  I  fpeak  of,  that 
will  tell  thee  what  thy  ftate  is ;  If  thou  wilt  be  true  to  thy- 
fcif,  thou  mayeft  know  the  Divine  Prefence,  and  thou  mayeil: 
hear  Chrifl  fpeak. 

The  foul  hath  eyes,  and  ears,  as  well  as  the  body, 
"^hat  eyes  doth  the  apoftle  mean  when  he  faith,  the  God  of 
this  world  hath  blinded  the  eyes  of  them  that  hdieijo  ncty  left 
the  light  of  the  glorwiis  gofpel  of  Chri/}^  ivho  is  the  image  of 
God,  jhould  fii?ie  unto  them  ?  If  the  foul  hath  eyes,  and  ears, 
as  well  as  the  body,  it  can  hear,  and  fee  as  tiie  body  ;  as  the 
bodily  eve  can  fee  viffble  things,  fo  the  eye  of  the  foul  can 
iee  things  that  are  invifibie,  and  heavenly  ;  you  can  hear  my 
voice  outwardlv,  and  vou  may  hear  the  voice  of  Chrift  in- 
V/ardly.  I  have  known  fome  that  have  been  fo  afraid  to  hear 
ill  of  themfelves,  that  they  would  not  enquire  ;  fome  have 
been  fo  guilty  in  their  own  confciences,  that  they  have  been 
afraid  of  hearing  ill,  and  would  not  enquire  about  them- 
felves :  So  it  is  inwardly;  fome  have  been  fo  confcious  that 
th^ir  life  and  converfation  is  naught,  that  their  life  is  a  fin- 
ful  life,  that  they  dare  not  put  it  to  the  queftion  :  It  would 
certainly  have  been  told  them,  thy  life  is  not  a  Chriftian  life ; 
thou  muft  m^end  thy  life,  before  ever  thou  comeft  to  have  peace 
Y/ith  God  :  If  this  fhouldbe  thy  portion  and  mine,  that  upon 
fearch  we  (liould  find  our  condition  bad,  what  harm  is  it  ? 

I  woutd  put  one  queftion  to  thee,  be  ferious  in  confidering 
of  it  :  \ye  are  aU  children  of  wrath  by  nature,  none  of  us 
differ  about  that,  and  that  unlefs  v:e  he  horn  again^  vje  can'dot 
enter  i'r.to  the  kingdom  of  God.     The  queftion   is,   whether  I 

am 


The  First  and  Great  Co-MMANVMunT,      j^ 

am  one  of  thofe  or  not  ?  Suppofe  upon  enquiry  it  bej^irco- 
vered  to  me  that  I  am  not,  that  is  bad  enough  \  this  is  hard, 
but  not  fo  hard  as  it  is  true  ,*  this  is  the  thing  which  I  would 
have  you  conlider  :  Am  not  I  in  a  better  cafe  to  know  that 
I  am  in  a  natural  ftate,  than  to  go  on  and  perifh  to  eternity  ? 
As  long  as  there  is  life,  there  is  hope  ;  as  long  as  a  man  is  up- 
on the  earth,  and  taking  care  for  his  foul,  and  enquiring  about 
theftate  of  his  immortal  foul,  if  his  foul  is  not  in  a  good  con- 
dition, is  it  not  better  for  him  to  know  it,  and  to  leek  for  a 
cure  ?  For  there  is  no  greater  infirmity  and  infe]icif\-  can  be 
upon  man,  than  to  have  fome  occult  and  hidden  difcafe,  that  he 
cannot  be  made  fenfible  of  j  for  this  waftes  and  Spoils  him, 
and  he  cannot  be  perfuaded  to  look  out  for  a  remedy  :  So  it 
is  inwardly;  if  a  man  be  ignorant  of  his  condition,  and  go 
on  to  his  dying  day,  and  hour,  and  does  not  leek  after  a  re- 
medy, this  man  periiheth  without  all  peradventure.  .  "^'''hcn 
you  are  in  this  enquiry,  be  content  to  be  controlled,  be  willing 
to  have  the  truth  fpoken,  though  it  be  againPc  yourfclves.  I 
might  inftance  in  divers  things  that  I  have  fpoken  of :.  if  a 
man  be  fatisfied  that  his  life  is  not  a  Chriflian  Jife,;'  I'f^y?  if 
the  fwearer  or  liar,  if  the  proud  perfon,  or  the  effeminate,  as 
foon  as  they  come  to  be  fatisfied  that  their  life  is  nor  a  Chrir- 
tian  hfe  that  thev  nov/  Uve,  wdiat  can  this  man  exped  ?  N^hat 
counfel  Hiould  we  give  him,  and  what  counfel  fliould  he  ta.ke  ? 
I  will  go  on  in  the  way  that  I  am  in  :  What,  after  thoU  kno'^^r 
efl:  thy  life  is  not  a  Chriflian  life  ?  God  forbid,:  Wilt  i-hou 
go  on  and  perpetrate  fm  upon  fm,  and  heap  up  wrath  againO: 
the  day  of  wrath  ;  I  am  a  finner,  my  life  is  unchrifl:;an,- 1  make 
account  to  live  in  fm,  and  die  in'fui ;  is  this  good  policy  ? 
Confider  another  text  which  our'  Lord  fpake,  if  ^s  die  in 
your  ft?iSy  vjJiither  I  go,  ye  cannot  come. 

O  friends,  lay  theie  things  to  your  hearts  ;  what  have  I 
to  do  but  to  tell  you  that  the  love  I  have  in  my  foul  for 
you 'all,  makes  me  defire  in  my  heart  that  you  might  be 
faved  ?  This  is  the  will  of  God,  that  you  might  all  be 
fczuedy  and  come  to  the  knowledge  of  the  truth:  Biejfed  ar& 
they  that  know  the  truth  ;  the  truth  as  It  is  in  Jefus.\,  Truth 
in  the  inward  parts,  hath  a  fpeaking  voice  ',  and  if  thou 
hearken  to  it,  it  will  tell  thee  that .  thy  ftate  is  naught. 
Canft  thou  believe  the  truth  when  he  tells  thee  fo,   that 

E  thy 


j"4  The  First  and  Great  Commandment. 
thy  ftate  is  naught,  and  that  thou  art  like  to  go  to  eter- 
nal deftrudion,  unlefs  there  be  repentance  and  regeneration 
to  prevent  it  l  Canfl:  thou  beheve  this  dodrine,  when  it 
founds  in  thy  own  heart  ?  If  thou  canfl:  not  believe  it, 
unbelief  will  be  thy  ruin.  The  fpirit  of  truth  is  come  t9 
convince  the  world  of  Jin,  hecaufe  they  believe  not  in  Chrifl  : 
He  tells  them  their  condition,  and  they  will  not  beheve 
him.  The  Spirit  of  Chrift  convinceth  men  of  fin,  and 
thev  believe  him  not.  The  fpirit  of  truth  convinceth  thee 
of  thy  fm,  but  thou  believeft  him  not.  If  thou  loveft  thy 
pleaiiire,  and  thy  profit,  and  thine  honour,  then  thou  lov- 
eft  not  God  with  all  thine  heart ;  and  then  thou  art  not 
a  Chridian,  but  out  of  covenant  with  God.  Art  thou  (qW- 
fible  that  thy  condition  is  bad,  were  it  not  bell:  to  get 
it  mended  ?  After  we  are  convinced  of  our  own  finful 
ftate,  is  it  not  our  beft  courfe  to  feek  to  have  it  mend- 
ed ?  Who  ftiall  mend  it  ?  faith  one  j  I  have  done  all  I 
can  to  mend   my  life,  and  I   cannot  mend  it. 

I  have  concluded  fo  in  m.y  younger  years  ',  I  have  fafted, 
and  prayed,  and  fpent  time  in  hearing,  reading,  and  me- 
ditation, and  did  all  in  my  own  power,  and  all  to  mend 
my  ftate,  but  I  could  not  mend  it  ;  and  as  I  grew  up 
in  years,  lin  and  corruption  more  prevailed,  and  there  was 
no  help  ;  and  I  came  fo  far  as  to  believe  there  was  no 
help,  and  that  if  God  did  not  help  me,  I  was  undone  to 
all  eternity.  I  many  times  wiftied  that  I  had  never  been 
born  :  I  went  to  minifters  and  meetings,  and  to  all  forts 
of  feparate  people,  and  to  all  manner  of  ordinances,  and 
to  all  manner  of  means,  to  mend  this  bad  heart  of  mine, 
to  fee  if  I  could  get  a  power  that  would  give  me  vic- 
tory over  my  corruptions  ;  but  my  arm  v/as  never  fo  long 
as  to  reach  thereunto  j  it  v/as  far  out  of  my  power  and 
reach. 

Many  have  fought  to  get  this  power  of  reforming  their 
hearts  and  lives  j  to  attain  it  by  their  oWn  hands,  by  their 
own  endeavours,  but  they  could  never  do  it  j  they  could 
never  better  their  condition,  nor  bring  forth  fruit  worthy 
of  amendment  of  life.  I  wiih  that  every  one  was  come 
to  that  pafs,  that  they  knew  not  which  way  to  turn  them  ; 
that  they   were    come  at   laft   to   their   wits  end  :    They 

will 


The  First  and  Great  Commandment,  s$ 
will  come  to  it  fooner  or  later  ',  the  fooner  the  better. 
I  have  done  all  I  can  ;  I  can  do  no  more  j  I  am  at  my  wits 
end,  and  I  know  not  what  to  think,  concerning  my  eter- 
nal ftatej  I  know  not  what  to  judge  of  it ;  I  ftrive  againft 
my  lufls  and  corruptions,  but  for  all  that  they  prevail 
againfl  me  :  Temptations  come  before  me,  but  I  cannot 
conquer  them.  O  I  am  glad  when  people  come  to  that 
pafs,  that  thev  know  not  what  to  do,  but  defpair  of  their 
own  arms,  oi  their  own  ftrength,  and  their  own  wit,  and 
defpair  of  all  other  help  in  the  world  j  I  am  glad  of 
that. 

I  am  not  preaching  up  defpair  of  God's  grace  and  mercy  ; 
but  let  me  tell  you,  when  men  defpair  of  their  own  do- 
ings, and  of  air  outward  means,  and  helps,  then  they  are 
fir  obieds  for  the  mercy  of  God  ;  and  not  till  then  :  When 
the  Lord  looked^  and  faxv  that  there  was  none  to  fave  and 
deliver^  then  his  own  arm  brought  fakation.  God  will 
not  fave  till  then  ;  God  will  not  reveal  his  power,  till 
men  have  done  with  their  own  power  ;  they  v/ill  never 
truft  God,  while  they  think  they  can  do  fomething  for 
themfelves.  All  the  forms  of  religion  of  the  feverai  peo- 
ple of  this  nation,  will  do  them  Httle  good  without  the 
power.  What  is  the  meaning  of  that  principle,  to  have 
fuch  mafles,  and  prayers,  and  performances?  What  is  thfe 
meaning  of  it  ?  Let  us  fearch  to  the  bottom.  They  fay 
we  are  fmners  ',  when  we  pray  to  God  for  his  blefling, 
and  for  falvation  by  Chrift,  there  is  this  at  the  bottom, 
they  think  thefe  duties  and  performances  will  be  very  help- 
ful to  their  ftate  ;  helpful  towards  the  knowledge  of  it  : 
To  fpeak  plain  Engliih,  thefe  are  their  Gods.  If  I  fpeak 
of  prophar.e  and  wicked  people,  I  would  fay  their  lulls 
are  their  Gods  :  But  when  I  fpeak  of  righteous  people, 
that  are  meer  formalifts,  then  I  fay  their  duties,  as  they 
call  them,  are  their  Gods.  When  they  have  done  all,  they 
can  do  nothing  for  them,  and  then  they  have  no  Gods  at 
all  ',  then  they  are  godlefs  :  And  if  God  doth  not  help 
them,  then  they  are  undone  to  all  eternity. 

When  poor  creatures  are  caft  out,  as  it  were,  into  the  open 
field,  to  the  loathing  of  their  perfons,  not  falted  at  all,  nor 
fwaddled  at  all,  but  lying  in  the  guilt  of  their  blood :   When 


j5  The  First  and  Great  Commandment, 
I  paffld  h.y  thee^  faith  the  Lord,  and  favj  thee  polluted  in  thy 
civn  blood,  1  faid  mito  .thee,  when  thcu  ivaft  in  thy  blood,  yea^ 
v:hcn  thou  vjajl  in  thy  blood,  1  faidiuito  thee,  live.  W'licn  I 
p^'Jpd  by  th,e,  and  looked  upon  Jiee,  behold,  thy  ti?/ie  ivas  a  time 
cf  love,  and  I  fpread  my  skirt  over  thee,  and  covered  thy  naked- 
72cfs  ;  yea,  I  fivare  unto  thee,  and  entered  irao  covenant 
ivith  thie,  faith  the  Lord  God,  and  thou  becameft  mine. 
"Vv"hat,  was  it  a  time  of  love,  when  I  was  fuch  an  object 
in  mine  own  ey.cs,  that  I  thought  I  was  the  moft  mife- 
rable  creature  in  the  world  ;  one  that  could  not  make  a 
gojd  pra)  cr,  nor  difpute  for  reheion,  nor  perform  any 
duty  ;  a  poor  creature  caft  out  into  the  open  field,  to 
the  loathiiig  of  my  perfon  j  loft  all  that  1  gained  ,  my 
name  was  from  among  the  living  j  my  days  were  pafied 
over  in  forrow,  and  I  faid  there  is  nothing  but  darknefs, 
and  death,  and  mifery  £ov  me  :  I  u'^ed  all  means,  and 
tried  all  thlr.gs,  faving  only  a  liv-ng  trufl:  in  God  alone, 
aiii  that  flj.a  and  blood  cannot  do.  Flefh  and  blood  can- 
r.ot  know  him,  therefore  fiefh  and  blood  cannot  truft  in 
hi  1.  Alas  !  faid  I,  I  cannot  truft  in  the  Lord,  I  cannot 
caft  my  ioul  and  all  my  concerns,  my  fame  and  reputation 
in  the  world,  I  cannot  caft  all  upon  the  care  of  the  Al- 
micrht}^  j  I  cannot  know  him,  nor  truft  in  him  j  how  can 
I  (io  it  'i  nobody  can  do  it.  They  that  know  my  nayne,.  faith 
the  Lord,  they  will  put  their  truft  in  trie  :  Never  a  truer 
word  was  fpokeii  ;  but  how  they  ftiould  know  God,  and  ■ 
truft  in  him,  I  know  not. 

When  thou  comeft  once  to  this  pafs,  to  be  at  thy  wits  end, 
and  not  know  which  wav  to  turn  thee,  nor  to  whom  to  run 
for  help,  or  to  ask  counfel  for  thy  foul's  welfare,  when  thou 
art  come  to  the  end  of  all,  and  without  hope,  then  God 
jeveals  himfelfby  his  Son  Jefus  Chrift;  Chrift  the  Son  of 
God,  is  known  by  our  coming  to  him  ;  but  none  can  com.e 
unto  Chrift,  except  the  Father  which  hath  feut  him,  draw  him  : 
When  thou  haft  done  with  thy  Gods,  and  thrown  away  thy  idols 
to  the  hats  ancl  moles,  then  thou  wilt  find  the  Lord  j  and 
thou  wilt  cry  out,  0!  that  God  would  have  mercy  upon  m.e, 
and  lift  up  the  light  of  his  countenance  upon  me;  I  am  a  poor, 
rniferable  creature.  I'here  are  many  that  make  fuch  a  whining 
and  ccmplaining,  that  they  take  a  pride  in  their  vny  com- 
plaints, 


The  First  and  Great  Commandment*        ^y 

plaints,  their  hypocrify  is  fo  great.  I  have  knov/n  fome  that 
have  prided  themfelves  in  wording  their  condition,  and  ex- 
prelTing  their  miferablc  cafe  before  the  Lord  ;  but  fuppofe 
thou  canft  not  fpeak  at  all,  but  feeleft  thyfeiFmirerable,  thou 
canft  not  exprefs  thy  condition  ;  at  fucn  a  time  as  this,  God 
was  drawing  thy  foul  to  Chrift  Jefus,  the  Mediator  of  it  :  I 
have  heard  of  a  Mediator,  and  that  there  is  Bahn  in  Gilead  for 
me  ',  that  there  is  a  phyfician  there  ;  that  there  15  one  phyfi- 
cian,  even  Jefus  Chrift,  the  Mediator  of  the  new  covenant ; 
thou  haft  finned  againft  him,  and  grieved  him,  yet  he  ftands 
with  open  arms  for  thee,  ready  to  receive  thee  and  em.bracfe 
thee  'y  where  ftands  he  ?  He  ftands  at  the  door  and  knocks  ; 
it  is  a  fmall  matter,  one  would  think,  to  let  him  in  :  Rev,  iii, 
20,  Behold^  I  ft  and  at  the  door  and  knock  ;  and  if  any  man 
hear  my  voice ^  and  open  the  dror,  I  will  come  in  to  him^  and 
[up  imth  him,  and  he  with  me.  Here  is  good  news  for  an  hun-' 
gry  foul,  if  any  fuch  be  here  ;  Chrift  the  Mediator,  ftands  at 
the  door  and  knocks,  he  will  come  in  and  fup  with  thee,  if 
thou  open  to  him  ;  then  we  ihall  meet  with  the  Lord's  fupper  : 
This  is  the  Lord,  I  luill  wait  for  him  ;  he  will  bring  his  bread 
with  him,  the  bread  of  life,  and  the  wine  of  his  kingdom,  and 
the  Lord's  fupper  will  be  celebrated  without  cavilling  and 
jangUng. 

Now,  becaufe  we  will  not  pervert  the  fcripture,  I  w.^uld 
have  you  that  underftand  books,  read  what  commentators  of 
this  and  former  ages  fay  upon  this  text  ;  whether  they  do  not 
deliver  in  their  opinions,  that  this  knocking  at  the  door,  is 
Chrift  calling  the  foul  by  his  grace ;  and  this  door  is  the  door 
of  the  heart,  and  Chrift's  calling  the  foul  by  his  grace  and 
Spirit,  to  let  him  in  by  faith  :  This  is  their  judgment  and  fenfe, 
and  their  fenfe  is  mine  ;  and  I  believe  the  genuine  fenfe  of 
this  text,  that  Chrift  would  have  people  think  he  is  near  to 
them,  and  would  have  them  open  their  hearts,  and  receive 
him  by  faith,  to  be  a  Saviour  to  them. 

No  j  that,  faith  flefh  and  blood,  I  cannot  bear,  I  cannot 
confent  to  have  him  for  my  Saviour,  I  will  not  let  him  in, 
for  he  is  like  Micaiah  to  Ahah,  he  never  f pake  <^ood  concerning 
me  :  For  if  I  have  him  for  my  Saviour,  I  muu  part  with  my 
lufts  and  pleafures ;  if  there  be  any  other  Saviour,  I  will  try, 
and  not  meddle  with  him  ;  he  will  fpoil  all  our  mirth  and 

good 


j(?        T7/f  First  and  Great  Commandment. 

good  fociety  ;  he  ^'ill  tell  me  tha;  every  idle  word  that  I  ihalf 
fpeak,  I  miiil:  give  an  account  thereof  in  the  day  of  judg- 
ment :  "^rhat,  do  you  think  that  I  can  like  Rich  a  Saviour  ? 
That  I  can  \i\Q  with  fuch  a  one  as  will  call  me  to  an  account 
for  every  vi^ord  I  fpeak ;  and  that  if  I  fpeak  one  idle  word, 
judgment  will  come  upon  me  ?  No,  I  will  try  one  and  ano- 
ther, rather  than  accept  of  him  on  fuch  terms  ',  I  am  one  that 
am  joined  to  fuch  a  church,  and  enjoy  fu,ch  and  fuch  ordi- 
nances, and  fuch  helps.:  I  am  in  covenant  with  God,  and 
tinder  the  feals  of  that  covenant ;  I  am  baptized,  and  do  par- 
Ti'kQ  of  the  Lord's  fupper,  which  is  another  feal  of  the  cove- 
nant; I  hope  it  will  go  well  with  me.  I  will  go  fomething 
farther  :  Another  faith,  he  muft  have  a  Mediator  ;  I  v/ill  go 
to  the  Virgin  Mary,  and  offer  fomething  to  her,  and  pray 
to  her:  Saith  another,  I  will  go  to  Saint  James^  and  Saint 
Juhn,  and  other  Saints  to  intercede  with  Go^  for  me.  They 
mud  have  fome  Mediator  :  This  is  the  twitting  and  twining 
of  the  fons  and  daughters  of  men,  to  keep  out  Chrift,  the 
great  Mediator,  who  cam.e  into  the  world  for  this  purpofe,  to 
deftroy  the  works  of  the  Devil.  Alas  !  I  have  nothing  left 
but  my  bare  life  and  living  in  this  world  ;  I  have  nothing 
left  me  but  fome  little  defire  I  had  to  pleafe  God^  and  that  he 
will  never  judge  and  condemn  m^e  for;  but  my  falfe  dealing, 
and  buying  and  felling  with  deceit,  he  will  judge  this,  and 
condemn  m_e  ;  and  my  difcouriing  of  things  without  me;  all 
my  carnal  friendfhip  of  the  world,  and  my  vain  faihions,  all 
this  is  corrupt  and  defiled  ;  thefe  he  came  on  purpofe  to  de- 
ftroy;  he  came  to  deftroy  both  the  Devil  and  his  works. 
"\5^hat,  can  a  man  live  in  the  world,  and  never  join  with 
the  Devil  ?  never  fm  at  all  ?  never  do  any  thing  that  the 
Devil  would  have  him  to  do  ?  There  is  no  perfedion  in  this 
world  ;  no  living  without  fm  here ;  then  I  am  Cure  there  is 
no  unity  with  Chrift  here;  and  if  there  be  no  unity  with 
Chrift,  then  there  is  none  with  God  the  Father.  \v'hat  will 
become  of  thee  now  ?  What  will  all  the  pleaders  for  that 
opinion  fay  now  ?  There  is  fomething  (lands  between  God 
and  me,  and  I  ftall  never  have  peace  ;  and  what  is  that  ?  It 
is  fm  ;  I  would  have  my  fin  taken  away,  elfe  I  had  better  ne- 
ver been  born.  Canft  thou  remove  fin  out  of  thy  heart? 
I  have  tried,  hut  I  cannot  do  it ;  I  have  heard  of  Chrift  the 

Mediator 


The  First  mnd  Great  Commandment,      -^g 

Mediator  of  the  new  covenant,  he  faith,  he  came  into  the 
world,  and  that  for  this  purpofe  he  was  manifePied,  thr.t  he 
might  deftroy  the  worlcs  of  the  Devi!.  Now  fin  in  my  he^rt 
is  the  Devil's  work,  I  will  fee  if  he  will  deftroy  that  for  mc; 
I  will  trud  and  rely  upon  him,  and  fee  if  his  great  power  caa 
deftroy  it  in  me. 

Here  people  come  rightly  to  believe  in  him  that  God 
hath  fent,  and  truft  in  him,  and  he  will  take  them  in  ;  and, 
like  a  Chirurgeon,  he  will  rip  their  hearts,  and  let  out  their 
corruptions,  though  there  hath  been  ever  fo  much  rottennefs; 
and  he  will  heal  them,  and  purify  them,  and  pardon  them, 
though  they  have  been  ever  fo  wicked,  if  they  come  to  him  j 
when  thy  fins  are  fet  in  order  before  thee,  then  thou  crieft 
out,  0  wretched  man  that  I  am  I  ivho  fliall  deliver  me  from 
this  body  of  death  ?  Is  it  God  that  hath  thought  on  me,  and 
waited  to  be  gracious,  hath  born  my  fins  long  ?  how  won- 
derful is  his  patience  towards  me  !  All  thefe  things  working 
in  the  foul,  tends  to  beget  a  love  of  God,  and  fervent  defires 
after  being  cleanfed  and  purified  from  {in^  and  earneft  prayer 
to  the  Lord,  to  make  the  holy  fire  to  kindle  that  would  burn 
it  up  :  The  more  the  foul  trufteth  in  Chrifi:,  the  more  doth 
this  heavenly  fire  burn  up  our  lufts,  and  then  a  man  feels  a 
great  change  in  his  mind  :  The  things,  faith  he,  that  I  deHght- 
ed  in,  are  now  grievous  to  me  ;  I  hope  I  fhall  never  be  found, 
in  thofe  things  again  ;  my  mind  is  now  taken  off  them  ;  who 
took  it  off?  Didftthou  not  flrive  before  to  take  it  off?  I  did, 
but  I  could  not  do  it.  There  are  many,  I  believe,  in  this 
aifembly,  before  the  Lord,  that  are  my  witneffes  in  this 
matter,  that  when  they  came  to  Chrift  the  Mediator,  he 
changed  their  minds,  and  he  untied  the  Devifs  fetters ;  they 
were  tied  to  their  fins  and  lufts,  but  he  hath  unloofed  them  ; 
they  arc  aihamed  of  thofe  things  that  they  formerly  took 
pleafure  in.  What  fruit  (faith  the  apoftle)  had  you  in  thofe 
things^  whereof  you  are  now  aftiamed  ?  So  I  fay,  what  plea- 
fure have  you  in  fporting,  and  gaming,  and  drinking,  and 
company-keeping  ?  "^hat  pleafure  have  you  to  think  on  your 
wanton  difcourfes  ?  What  pleafure  in  pride  and  vanity? 
"V^hat  pleafure  in  wrath  and  bitternefs  of  mind  ?  And  what 
pleafure  in  malice  and  envy?  What  pleafure  have  you  in 
thefe  things  thereof  you  are  now  afhamed  ?  So  far  as  you 

arc 


40       The  First  nnd  Great  Commandment. 
are  convinced,   you  are  ailiamed  to   think  of  them  ;  I  am 
ailiamed  to   think  that  the  Devil  at  fuch  a  time,  by  fuch  a 
temptation,  fhould  prevail  over  me. 

I  ^)^'ould  to  God  you  were  all  come  to  this,  to  be 
aftiamed,  that  you  might  remember  your,  pad  evil  ways  and 
actions,  with  forroVv^  and,  fhame  :  There  is  a  fecret  joy 
in  this.  Sure  it  is  better  to  be  afnamed,  than,  to'  con- 
tinue in  impudence.  God  hath  wrought  this  change  at 
daft  y  and  who  ihail  have  the  glory  of  it  ?  God  ihall  have 
the  glory  of  it  ;  for  his  own  works  will  praife  him..  What 
men  do,  many  times  they  do  for  their  own  praife  ;  but 
when  they  are  at  their  wits  end,  and  know  not  what  to 
do,  they  caft  themfelves  upon  their  Maker,  to  fee  if  he 
will  have  mercy  upon  them  ;  if  not,  they  mufl:  perifh  : 
Then  for  what  he  doth,  he  gets  the  glory  and  the  praife 
of  it. 

There  are  fome  here,  that  are  bound  to  prai^^e  God 
while  they  have  a  day  to  live,  for  what  he  hath  done 
for  them.  They  could  never  have  loved  God  with  all 
their  hearts  j  but  they  wouM  have  continued  ftrangers  to 
God,  and  the  Devil  would  have  led  them  captive  at  his 
will.  They  would  not  have  loved  God  with  all  their 
hearts,  had  not  God  firft  jhed  abroad  his  love  upon  their 
hearts,  and  conftrained  them  to  love  him  :  It  is  he  that 
hath  iirPc  loved  them,  and  vjroiight  in  them,  both  to  will 
&nd  to  dcy  of  his  own  good  fleafiire.  W^hatfoever  we  are, 
we  are  by  the  grace  of  God  j  this  grace  is  magnified  in 
them  that  believe  and  obey  the  gofpel. 

My  friends,  we  knov/  there  is  fo  much  peace  and  plea- 
fure  in  the  ways  of  God  ;  fo  much  foui-fatisfadtion  in 
Walking  with  God,  and  loving  of  him  with  all  our  hearts, 
I  fliould  be  glad  if  every  one  of  you  v/ere  of  the  fame 
mdnd,  and  had  experience  of  it.  We  labour  diligently  for 
this  purpofe  ;  and  we  would  fet  before  you  thefe  two 
things  : 

Fiill;,  how  we  may  come  to  know  our  miferable  flatc 
by  nature. 

And  what  a  bleffed  and  happy  ftate  they  are  in,  that  have 
been  converted  and  changed  ;  that  have  been  tranflated  out 
of  the  kingdom  of  darknefs,  into  the  kingdom  of  God's  dear 
Son.         ^  Confider 


The  First  an~d  Great  Commandment.       41 

Confider  your  ftate  by  nature  is  evil ;  ^'e  hope  that  many 
of  you  believe  the  reports  of  the  golpel,  concerning  the  good- 
hefs  of  the  Lord,  his  great  love  in  fending  his  Son  into  the 
world,  to  feek  and  to  fave  you  that  were  l^fi:,  and  that  }ou 
believe  in  him.  And  we  are  pcrfuaded,  that  by  the  fooliiiiT 
nefs  of  preaching  God  will  lave  iome  of  you,  thrt  you 
may  be  his  redeemed  ones,  and  truft  to  no  other  Saviour : 
For  there  is  not  any  other  naire  under  Heaven,  but  the  nayv.e 
of  JefuSy  by  which  we  can  he  faved.  He  only  can  take 
away  the  fins  of  the  world  ;  his  fpirit  fearcheth  the  heart, 
and  trieth  the  reins,  which  he  promifed  to  fend  into  the 
world  when  he  was  about  leaving  of  it.  Now  I  dare  pro- 
claim that  Holy  Spirit  to  be  the  Spirit  of  the  God  of 
Heaven,  that  now  fees  what  refolution  thou  art  of,  and 
what  thou  art  now.  propofing  to  do  ;  whether  to  ro  on 
ifi  fin,  or  to  return  to  God.  This  I  can  fpeak  without 
blafphemy,  it  is  God's  Spirit  that  fearcheth  the  heart,  and 
knoweth  thy  thoughts  and  purpofes,  and  convinceth  thee 
of  thy  fin  ;  God  hath  fent  his  Son  Chrift  Je.^us  into  the 
world  to  enlighten  you,  that  by  his  light  you  may  fee 
him  j  and  that  by  his  grace  you  might  receive  him  j  and 
that  by   his  grace  you  might   be  faved. 

To  him  1  commit  you  all,  and  thefe  words  that  we 
have  fpoken  in  the  evidence  and  demonflration  of  the  fpi- 
rit, according  as  he  hath  wrought  in   us. 

I  muft  tell  you  we  were  never  called  of  God  to  ftudy 
■Sermons  for  you,  nor  to  preach  things  that  are  made  ready 
to  our  hands;  but  as  the  Lord  cur  God  hath  wrought  in 
us,  and  as  God  hath  been  pleafed  to  m.ake  known  his  mind 
to  us,  and  by  his  Spirit  given  us  utterance,  fo  we  fpcak, 
and  fo  we  preach.  You  that  are  come  to  believe  and  re- 
ceive the  things  of  the  Spirit,  you  will  judge  what  I  fay. 
1  fpeak  unto  you  that  are  fpiritual  ;  judge  ye  what  I  fay^ 
faith  the  apoftle.  So  when  I  fpeak  of  divine  and  hea- 
venly things,  you  that  are  fpiritual,  judge  what  I  fay  ? 
And  as  you  come  to  judge  and  determine  in  yourfetves 
that  thefe  things  are  true,  you  will  feel  the  power  of 
them  in  your  own  fpirits,  and  we  Ihall  all  be  of  the  iame 
mind  ;  and  as  we  have  one  God,  v/e  iliall  ierve  him  in 
finceritv,  and  worfhip  him  with  reverence.     Thsn  his  name 

F  ihall 


^z  The  First  and  Great  Commandment* 
(hail  be  exalted  in  the  midft  of  us,  and  we  fnall  edify  one 
another  in  love,  and  we  ihall  inftrud  one  another,  and 
call  upon  one  another  ;  come^  let  us  go  to  the  honfe  cf  the  God 
of  Jacob,  he  ivill  teach  us,  and  prejtrve  us  in  his  way,  and 
do  us  good,  and   keep  us  from  all  evil. 

Turn  your  minds  inward,  and  confider  that  God  is  a 
God  at  hand,  ready  to  help  you  ;  and  he  requires  no  more 
of  vou  than  of  other  people  in  former  times,  to  love  the 
Lord  with  all  your  hearts,  and  to  abftrad:  and  withdraw 
vour  m.ind  from  all  ether  things  that  do  come  in  com- 
petition with  him  ;  and  be  iure  lo  have  no  truft  or  de- 
pendence but  upon  him  ;  then  lee  what  Qca  will  dd 
for  you  :  No  tongue  can  exprefs,  nor  pen  write  ',  nei- 
ther 'hath  it  entered  into  the  heart  of  man  to  conceive^  the 
things  that  God  hath  prepared  for  thofe  that  love  him.  That 
^^^ifdcm  and  knowledge,  that  joy  and  peace,  and  confoia- 
tiori,  that  paileth  all  underdandine,  he  wil-  reveal  and  com- 
municate by  his  rpirit  to  them  that  love  him,  and  truft 
in  him,  and  rely  upon  him,  and  receive  teaching  from  him  ; 
he  will  feed  them  ii*i///  food  in  due  feafon  ;  he  ivitl  bring- 
the  former  and  the  tatter  rain,  and  they  fJiall  be  as  trees 
flanted  by  the  rivers  of  v:ater,  and  hrirg  forth  fruit  in- 
due feafon  ;   and  their  leaf  fiall  fiot  fade   or   wither. 

This  hath  been  Lcndor^s  wonder,  and  England's  won- 
der, how  it  comes  to  pafs,  that  fuch  a  people's  leaf  hath 
not  withered,  nor  faded,  as  many  have  done :  Our  root 
was  by  a  river  j  if  we  had  ftood  in  ourfelves  y  if  our 
dependence  and  fupport  had  been  upon  dodrines,  tenets, 
and  commandments  of  men,  then  our  leaf  would  have  been 
upon  the  ground  as  well  as  others  ;  but  becaufe  we  have 
been  upon  our  root,  Chrft  Jefus,  that  is  al^'ays  green, 
both  in  fummer  and  winter,  therefore  our  leaf  hath  not 
withered  ;  to  the  praiHe  of  God,  and  to  the  honour  of 
his  name,  be  it  fpoken  :  He  hath  preferved  us,  for  we 
have  no  power  of  ourfelves,  no  more  than  others  ;  but 
we  trull:  in  God,  and  have  received  power  from  ^  God, 
to  ftand  as  witncffes  for  him  ;  VvC  have  trufted  in  the  Lord, 
and  he  hath  ftood  by  us,  and  delivered ^us,  when  we  were 
compafTed  about  with  dangers  and  didrefles  ',  if  We  con- 
tinue to  truR  in  him  ftili,    he  will  bring  us  through  all 

our 


The  First  and  Great  Commandment,  S:c.  4^ 
our  trials  and  troubles,  and  he  will  be  with  us,  and  ne- 
ver leave  us  72or  forfake  us  ;  if  we  take  hioi  for  bur  God, 
we  (hall   never   need   any   other. 

W Q  YQSidth^t  Se^/acheril?^  king  o£  j4Jfyri a y  fent  RabJIiekak 
to  Jenifalem  to  Hezekiah.,  with  a  great  army,  faying,  ivhat 
confidence  is  this  wherein  thou  trujieft  ?  And  he  fpake  alfo  to 
the  people,  and  cried  with  a  loud  voice,  hear  you  the  word  cf 
the  great  king  of  Afiyria  ;  let  not  Hezckiali  deceive  you,  for  he 
fliati  not  be  able  to  deliver  you  ;  neither  let  Hczekiah  make  you 
trufl  in  the  Lord,  faying,  the  Lord  will  deliver  us.  Hezeki^h 
vuent  and  prayed  to  the  Lord,  faying,  0  Lord  of  hofts,  God  of 
Ifrael,  that  dwelleft  between  the  Che.ubimSy  thou  art  the  God, 
the  God  alone  of  all  the  kingdoms  of  the  earth  ;  thou  haft  made 
Heaven  and  earth  ;  incline  thine  ear,  0  Lordy  and  hear  ;  open 
thine  eyes,  0  Lordy  and  fee  and  hear  all  the  words  0]  Senache- 
rib,  vjhich  he  hath  fent  to  reproach  the  living  God,  &c.  And 
we  read,  that  after  he  had  pi-efented  his  fupplication  be- 
fore the  Lord,  the  angel  of  the  Lord  vjcnt  forth  and  fmote  in 
the  camp  of  the  Affyrians,  one  hundred  f our  f core  and  jive  thou- 
fand  ;  and  when  they  arofe  early  in  the  morningy  beholdy  they 
were  all  dead  corps. 

Thus  you  fee  what  came  of  it  at  lad  ;  and  thus  it  hath  been 
in  our  day  ;  they  that  truft  in  the  Lord,  he  will  deliver  them, 
and  they  fhail  never  be  afhamed  nor  confounded  ;  but  as  for 
all  other  Gods,  they  that  trufl:  in  them.,  ihall  be  confounded  and 
covered  with  ihame,  and  they  and  their  Gods  will  periih  to- 
gether. 

And  now,  my  friends,  I  befeech  you  all  to  have  refped  to 
this  great  duty  of  putting  your  whole  truft  in  the  Lordy  v/ho 
is  the  Uving  God,  and  he  will  be  always  prefent  with  you,  and 
work  in  you  both  to  v/ill  and  to  do  of  his  good  pleafure  ;  he 
will  fupport  and  preferve  you  in  all  your  trials  and  fufferings, 
thatyoumay  beveffelsof  honor,  to  bear  his  name  in  the  earth, 
and  'fo  found  forth  his  praife  to  the  following  generations. 

His  Prayer  after  SeriMon. 

M  0  S  T  gf.orious,  infinitCy  Povjerful  Father  !  who  haft  ere- 
atedus,  and  given  us  life  and  breath,  and  lengthened^  out  our 
time  to  this  day,  and  haft  long  waited  to  be  gracious  to  us,  and 
(^.rt  fill  vjaiting  upon  the  fons  and  daughters  of  men,  holditg 

forth 


4^  His  Prayer  after  Sermon, 

forth  the  hand  ofth^  love,  and  offeringthy grace andtenderhigfcl- 
vation  luito  them^  and  heft  brought  a  day  of  ijifttaticn  upon  the 
hihahitants  of  this  city  and  nation, 

-  ^'-C'ry,  praife  and  thankfgiving  he  to  thee,  0  Lord  I  that  by 
thy  power  y  thou  hafl  inclined'the  hearts  and  confciences  of  the  fons 
and  davgkters  of  men,  to  fibniit  to  thee,  and  hcvo  their  necks  to 
the  b'ejjed  and  eafy  yoke  of  thy  Sen  J  ejus  Chrijl,  that  they 
n^ay  do  thy  ivill  on  earth,  as  it  is  done  in  Heaven.  They  that 
are  travelling,  an!  di^lrcffd,  and  affltcred  in  their  fouls  becaufe 
cf  their  bent  ug?^  do  thou  arife,  living  Father,  and  reveal y  and 
dtfc^rer  thy  ■/Jcer  to  them;  fiiew  them  the  exceeding  greatnefs 
cf  ihv  pozver,  that  they  may  trnft  therein,  and  be  fafe  ;  wake 
hare  thine  a^m  for  their  falvation,  Thofe  that  are  Jlumbering 
in  their  profefjion,  let  them  be  avjakened ;  and  bring  to  thine 
ksavenh  kn.gdom^  thofe  that  have  pajfed  through  thy  refmng 
fire^  and  when'  thou  hafl  cleanfed  and  fanBi fed. 

Prjiverful  Father  of  Lfe  !  carry  on  thy  vjork  a?fiong  thy 
people  every  ivhere  :  Gather  them  that  are  fcattered,  and  bring 
hack  to  thyfef,  thofe  that  are  v:andering  and  out  of  the  zvay, 
i2nd  feeking  the  living  among  the  dead.  Lord,  teach  them  and 
let  them  hear  a  voice  behind  them,  and  guide  them  to  the  holy 
mountain  ;  that  they  may  be  brought  to  the  path  of  life,  and  to 
the  place  which  thou  hafl  provided  for  thy  little  flock  to  meet  and 
feed  together,  offering  Utianimoufly  the  facrifices  of  praife  and 
thank-^giving,  which  then  hafl  ordained  and  appointed  in  thine. 
houfe, . 

BJcjfed  and  povccrful  Father  !  all  thy  little  ones  be  pJeafed  to 
furroimd  ivith  thine  Almighty  Poiver  ;  and  ivherever  they  are, 
let  theinfeel  thy  preferving  hand,  delivering  them  fro?n  the  evil 
cf  the  world  ;  We  pray  not  that  thou  fliouiaefl  take  them  out  of 
the  world,  but  to  preferve  the?nfroin  the  defilements  and  pollutions 
of  it :  That  holy  people  may  ferve  thee  the  holy  God,  and  bear 
thy  holy  name  upon  their  hearts  ;  that  fo  it  may  be  exalted 
a7id  magnified  above  all  J  and  hum  bk  thankfglvings  and  praifes, 
may  be , given  unto  thee,  through  J efus  Chriftj  for  all  thy  love 
thou  hafl  ma7>Afefied,  and  for  thy  abounding  mercies,  and  renewed 
favo:irs  which  ws  have  received  at  thy  hands. 
^  To  thee,  iivi?!g  Father,  through  Jefus  Chrifl,  thy  v:dUheloved 
Son,  in  whom  thou  art  well  pleafed,  be  all  honour,  praife  and 
dominion  rendered  by  us^  and  all  thy  people,  from  henceforth,  and 
forever.     Amen. 

SERMON 


SERMON    IV; 
The    Standard    of    Truth, 

Preached    at    GrACE-ChurCH'StrEET,    May   29,    1692, 


T 


1  H  E  R  E  is  a  univerfa]  ftandard  of  truth,  that  God 
hath  fet  up  over  all  the  Tons  and  daughters  of  men  ; 
he  hath  given  the  knowledge  of  it  in,  and  through 
Jefus  Chriftj  he  hath  dealt  it  out  to  l:hem,  that  they  may 
be  capable  of  joining  and  adhering  to  the  truth,  and  to  be 
delivered  from  eternal  condemnation.  This  flandarcl  and 
tneafuring-rule  is  revealed  and  manifel^ed  in  every  man  and 
woman,  by  the  light  that  Ihines  in  their  hearts,  by  which  they 
are  able  to  difcern,  and  to  give  a  found  and  true  judgm.ent, 
(if  they  are  but  willing)  upon  all  their,  cvon  vcays,  A  man 
or  woman  may  know  in  every  word  they  fpeak,  in  every  ac- 
tion they  do,  whether  they  ipeak,  and  do,  according  to  the 
truth,  or  whether  they  are  juftified  by  the  truth,  in  what  they 
fpeak  and  do. 

I  tell  you,  my  friends,  this  is  no  fmall  mercy,  that  m_an- 
kind  hath  obtained  at  the  hand  of  his  Maker,  that  he  is 
brought  into  a  capacity  of  not  ading  blind-fold,  but  that  he 
may  fee  his  way,  and  his  own  inclinations,  and  pafs  judg- 
ment upon  them,  whether  they  are  good  or  evil  ?  Whether 
they  will  ftand  juftified  in  the  fight  of  his  Maker,  or  whether 
they  will  be  condemned. 

I  confefs,  the  veil  of  ignorance,  that  is  comxe  over  the  fons 
anddaughtersof  men,  through  fin,  tranfgrelTion  andrebelhon, 
is  very  great.  And  I  may  fay,  as  the  apoftle  faid,  fometime  you 
ivere  darknefs :  And  what  can  darknels  fee?  what  can  dark- 
nefs  difcover  ?  The  Lord  our  God,  that  made  us,  hath  not 
left  us  in  that  ftate  of  darknefs,  blindnefs  and  ignorance  ;  but 
through  the  riches  of  his  mercy  and  goodnefs,  hath  found 
out  a  way,  to  conunand  that  light  fnoidd  fhme  out  of  darknefs ^ 
into  people's  hearts,  for  all  that  the  Devil  did  to  darken  man, 
to  alienate  and  efrrange  him  from  his  Maker. 

The  fame  Almighty  Power,  that  faid  in  the  creation,  let 
there  be  Ught^  and  it  v,^as  fo  ;  he  hath  fhined  into  our  hearts  j 

and 


45*  Th(^  Standard  of  Truth, 

and  the  vray  by  \x4iich  he  hath  done  fo,  is  through  the  Media- 
tor, through  Jefus  Chriil:  the  Redeemer,  in  iv horn  the  fuhiefs 
cf  ths  Gwriead  divells.  He  hath  received  power  from  his 
Father,  not  only  to  be  a  light  and  falvation,  but  to  impart 
and  communicate  of  that  divine  Hght  unto  them,  even  iL77to 
e^sery  cnQ  that  comeih  hito  thevjorld  ;  thatfo  bv  meaas  thereof, 
they  may  be  delivered  from  their  darknefs,  and  ignorance  of 
the  mind  of  God,  that  they  were  liable  to  in  the  fall,  and 
rnig'.iC  be  refrorei,  through  the  Mediator,  to  a  capacity  of 
judging  of  their  own  adions,  and  of  their  own  words,  and 
ways,  and  inclinations. 

This  is  i\\Q  ftandard  which  God  hath  pitched  in  every  one 
of  our  bofoms,  for  the  trial  of  ourfelves,  either  for  our  jufti- 
fication,  or  condemnation,  of  every  word  and  adion. 

Now,  to  make  ^very  one  fenii!:>Ie  of  the  greatnefs  of 
this  bseiling,  conlider,  it  is  not  only  given  to  augment 
and  encreafe  knowledge,  but  it  is  given  on  purpofc  to  allure 
and  perfuade  men  into  a  liking  of  truth,  into  a  love  of 
truth  :  The  apoftie  efteemed  it  a  wonderful  mercy  that  came 
by  Chrift  j  he  hath  fent  him  to  blefs  us,  in  turning  every 
one  of  us  from  the  evil  of  his  ways  :  So  that  here  is  a  capacity 
that  the  fons  and  daughters  of  men  have,  through  the  Mediator, 
of  being  turned  from  the  evij  of  their  ways  and  doings,  to  that 
which  is  well-pieafing  to  God. 

The  next  work,  after  God  hath  wrought  thus  mercifully  for 
the  fons  and  daughters  of  men,  is,  that  they  would  be  good  to 
themfelves,  and  m.ercifulto  themfelves,  and  take  pity  of  them- 
felves,  by  a  due  im,provement  of  the  grace,  and  mercy,  and 
kindnefs  of  God,  that  he  hath  beflowed  freely  upon  them; 
and  in  bringing  all  their  deeds  to  that  ftandard^  ail  their 
words  and  adions  to  that  rule  ;  that  fo  whatfoever  they  may 
be,  or  how  many  foever,  if  they  do  not  anfwer  that  ftandard 
and  rule,  they  may  deny,  withftand  and  refift  them,  that  fo 
they  may  keep  out  of  condemnation  :  For  the  apoftie  declares 
it  plainly  without  fcruple,  there  is  no  condemnation  to  them  that 
are  in  Chrift  Jc-\ls  :  If  he  had  faid  to  them  that  profefs  Chrift 
Jefus,  there  had  been  a  large  latitude,  efpecially  for  thofe  na- 
tions y  but  the  words  are  hmitfed,  and  you  will  find  them  fo  ; 
that  is,  to  them  thrt  are  in  Chrift  Jefus  ;  and  (as  if  he  fiiould 
fa}  )  that  you  may  know  rightly  what  I  mean  j  I  mean,  fuck 

as 


The  STANT>ARr>   of  TrVTH,  4^ 

as  ivalk  not  after  the  flefh,  but  after  the  fpirit.  They  that  arc 
in  Chrift,  walk  after  his  Spirit ;  for,  they  that  walk  not  after 
the  Spirit  of  Chrift^  are  none  of  his  ;  but  they  that  are  his, 
walk  after  the  fpirit,  the  fpirit  of  truth,  and  there  is  no  con- 
demnation to  them. 

It  is  not  only  the  fcriptures  that  ratify  and  confirm  this 
dodrine,  but  you  yourfelv^s  are  all  living  witneRes  of  the 
truth  of  this,  that  fo  far  as  you  do  ad  and  fpeak  in  obedience 
to  the  principle  of  truth,  that  God  hath  planted  in  you,  you 
feel  no  condemnation  upon  you :  Such  a  thing  I  did  at  fuch 
a  time,  and  I  had  no  condemnation  :  Why  fo  ?  becaufe  I 
did  it  in  obedience,  and  fubjedion  to  that  meafure  of  grace 
that  God  fet  up  in  me  ',  and  fuch  a  thing  I  did,  for  which  I 
was  condemned  :  Why  fo  ?  becaufe  I  did  it  according  to 
themclinationsof  my  own  corrupt  mind,  and  in  contradidion 
to  the  truth  that  opened  in  me. 

My  friends,  I  would  have  you  in  point  of  the'  doc- 
trine of  chriftianity,  to  be  the  better  for  what  you  read 
and  hear  :  It  is  pofiible  for  me  to  preach  the  truth^  and 
you  may  believe  what  I  fay,  and  you  may  read  the  Ho- 
ly Scriptures,  and  have  the  belief  of  what 'you  read  ;  but 
if  you  come  to  a  fenfible  feeling  of  the  fulfilling  of  things 
you  hear,  you  will  give  a  greater  feal  to  the  truth  of  the 
dodrine,  than  by  all  you  have  read  and  heard  ;  and  you 
will  groiv  ivife  to  fahation^  by  trying  and  experiencing 
the  efFed  of  every  thing  you  undcrfrand  ;  and  not  like  the 
carnal  men  of  this  world,  tliat  have  not  faith,  that  mind 
only  their  worldly  profits  and  pleafures,  fuch  are  earths 
by  f^nfial  a-ad  devilifh  ;  but  I  would  judge  of  adions  and 
V/ords,  according  to  truth,  and  according  to  the  effed  I 
find  in  me.  I  did  fuch  a  thing,  and  I  had  peace  in  the 
doing  of  it  ;  I  feel  no  reproach,  no  condemnation  upon 
me.  Here  is  a  way  for  people  to  grow  up  in  the  life 
of  chriftianity  ;  to  keep  to  the  ftandard  of  truth  j  for  whe- 
ther men  will  or  no,  they  muft  do  it  at  laft,  and  may 
now,  if  they  pleafe,  make  a  trial  of  their  words  and  ac- 
tions. 

As  for  the  moft  part  of  you,  you  are  got  pail  Pilate : 
Pilate  could  make  that  enquiry;  'ivhat  is  truth?  faith  he : 
And  I  confeis,  it  is  not  long  ago,  it  is  within  the  me- 
mory ^ 


.4^  .   The  Standard  of  Truth. 

mory  of  man,  that  a  more  ferious  and  better  fort  of  peo- 
ple were  To  confounded  with  the  darknefs  and  ignorance 
of  thofe  times,  that  they  were  ready  to  cry  out,  what  is 
truth  ?  and  where  is  truth  ?  Their  eyes  were  fo  blinded, 
and  things  were  fo  jumbled  and  confufed  by  the  difpu- 
tations  that  men  raifed,  that  made  things  fo  dark  people 
could  not  fee  their  way  :  But  God  ivlio  hath  commanded  the 
■liglit  to  flitne  out  of  darknefs^  hath  brought  d.  glorious  day; 
hath  diflipated,  and  fcattered,  and  driven  away  a  great  deal 
of  that  fog  and  mlC^,  that  did  overfpread  men's  minds. 
As  many  as  have  fincerely  fought  the  truth  in  the  inward 
parts,  they  have  found  a  divine  principle  of  truth,  that 
Jiath  a  felf-evidencing  quality  in  itfclf,  to  convince  the 
minds  and  confciences  of  the  fons  and  daughters  of  men, 
■that  it  is  the  truth  :  And  to  this  the  Lord  hath  brought 
m^oft  of  you,  to  be  fenfible  of  fomething  that  is  truth  in 
itfelf.  There  are  many  things  that  are  true  in  the  words 
of  them  ',  many  true  exprelTions  j  but  there  is  truth  in  it- 
felf, the  effential  truth  of  God,  which,  as  it  is  in  God,  is 
everlafling  and  eternal,  and  will  ftand  over  all  error,  and 
faUnood,  and  deceit  :  The  truth,  as  it  is  in  Chrift  Je- 
fus,  is  a  ftandard  and  rule  for  men  to  ad  by  ;  he  hath 
given  it  to  the  fons  and  daughters  of  men  ;  and  as  it  ap- 
pears in  them,  it  is  either  a  Judge  to  condemn  them.,  or 
a  Saviour  to  fave  them  from  their  fins,  and  to  juftify 
them. 

Now,  that  which  concerns  us,  is  to  find  out  the  m.eafure 
of  truth,  or  m.anifefcation,  or  principle  of  truth,  which  it  hath 
pleafed  God  to  reveal  m  ourfelves :  And  whofoever  v/ill  turn 
their  minds  a  httle  while  inward,  into  the  ferious  fearch  and 
confideration,  how  the  Lord  hath  dealt  with  them,  they  will 
find  they  are  not  quite  deftitute  of  truth.  One  that  makes  it 
his  pradice  to  lye,  cheat  and  cozen,  is  not  utterly  deftitute  of 
.truths  for  there  is  a  principle  of  truth  in  him,  that  doth 
check  and  reprove  him  for  his  theft,  lying  and  falihood,  and 
he  lives  under  condemnation  himfelf.  He  cannot  draw  near 
to  the  God  of  truth  upon  any  occafion,  but  his  lying  and 
falfhood  ftand  in  his  way.  Now,  if  fo  be,  that  this  liar  be 
made  fenfible  of  a  principle  of  truth  in  him,  and  do  but 
bring  his  words  and  actions  to  the  truth,  lo  much  of  it  as  he 


knows 


The  Standard  of  Truth.  49 

knows  will  make  him  leave  lying  and  deceiving,  and  to 
pradife  truth  to  escape  condemnation  ;  if  he  will  bi-t  lepve 
lying  and  falfhood,  and  live  in  the  truth,  and  fpcak  the  truth 
to  his  neighbour,  he  wiil  find  another  (late,  condition  and  frame 
in  his  foul,  than  there  was  before  :  He  is  now  more  at  peace, 
and  hath  a  clear  and  fcrene  way,  to  come  to  God  by  pra>  cr, 
and  for  pouring  out  his  fupphcation,  which  he  had  not  be- 
fore ;  for  he  had  barred  up  his  own  way  by  his  fin,  which  lay- 
continually  at  his   door  ;  if  thou  deft  net  ivcli,  f:n  lies  at  thy 

door,  faith  God  to  C ain  :  So,  v/hen  vou  do  cvii,  vou  cannot 

'  11*'- 

but  know  it  j  when  you  are  drunk,  or  (wear  or  teil  a  lie,  and 

deceive  your  neighbour,  an  d   carry  on  the  defirn  of  fmful 

profit,  thou  knov/eft  it,  whether  men  know  it  cr  10.^  and  God 

that  made  thee  knoweth  it ;  and  there  thy  fm  lies  at  the  door, 

and  blocks  and  bars  thee  out,  that  thou  canft  not  offer  thy 

prayers  to   God  with  that  clearnefs,  as  if  thou  hadft  fpoken 

the  truth  :  So  that  it  highly  concerns  every  one  of  u^,  to  be 

waiting  upon  God,  for  the  difcovery  of  his  truth  to  us;  and 

then  we  muft  embrace,  adhere  and  join  to  the  truth,  as  our 

chiefeO:  good. 

But  fome  will  fay,  this  adhering  and  joining  to  the  truth, 
is  a  hard  Icffon  :  It  is  pretty  eafy  to  find  out  a  principle  of 
truth,  that  ftandeth  againd,  and  oppofeth  all. manner  of  evil  : 
Very  few,  now  a-days,  will  deny  a  fettled  principle  of  truth 
in  all  m.en,  that  judgcth  fahliood,  and  condemneth  deceit,  and 
witneifeth  againd  it  in  others,  and  in  themfelves  :  But  this 
fame  joining,  and  adhering  to  it,  that  cannot  be  done,  with- 
out a  crofs  to  a  carnal  mind. 

Now,  if  the  crofs  of  Chrid  be  not  taken  up,  there  is  no 
good  Chriftianitv  among  us  ;  v/here  this  is  ncglecled,  it  fpots 
and  flains  the  profelTion  of  Chridianity,  because  it  is  fo  di- 
redly  oppofite  to  the  doctrine  of  Chrifi: ;  he  th.'jt  zviil  he  my 
difciple^  muft  ;  it  is  not,  he  may  if  he  will  ;  but,  he  tnufl  uke 
lip  the  crofs  of  ChrJftj  and  follow  him.  There  were  a  fort  of 
people,  that  were  never  like  to  bemadeChriilians,  that  would 
be  exempt  from  taking  up  a  daily  crofs  r  therefore  he  prefTeth 
it  upon  them  to  deny  themfelves,  and  take  up  his  cro^s  and 
follow  him.  No  man  is  like  to  live  a  Chriftiaii  life,  without 
taking  up  a  daily  crofs. 

This  I  cannot  Ao,  fays  one;  I  know  hoxi  to  carry  myfelf 


^0  The  Stjkvard  cf  Truth, 

among  ChHflians  with  ferioufnefs,  iobriety  and  watchfulncfs, 
^(4thout  fhaming  any  profeilion  ;  but  I  cannot  deny  my  1  elf, 
I  cannot  contradict  my  own  will  :  This  is  that  which  keeps 
a  man  from  leading  a  Chnilian  life,  when  he  cannot  deny 
him'elf,  and  take  up  his  daily  crofs. 

Now,  it  is  come  to  chis  now  a-days,  w  hen  a  li^Kt  is  broken 
forih,  and  men  have  a  principle  of  truth  in  their  own  hearts, 
it  comes  to  this  j  faith  one,  I  ought  to  be  ho-y  in  all  manner 
cf  converfatic?iy  and  to  be  wacchfui  over  my  words,  and  have 
ray  conversation  honed  and  juft  without  deceit  :  See  what  a 
deal  I  know,  yet  I  can  never  live  this  life,  iot  all  I  know  it  fo 
welU  I  cannot  take  up  a  daily  crofs,  which  is  fo  m.uch  againft 
the  contrary  incHnations  working  in  me  j  then  the  queftion 
I  put  to  myfelf  is,  (hall  I  take  up  a  crofs  or  no  ? 

Here  it  comes  to  the  point  with  every  man  or  Woman, 
after  they  come  to  the  knowledge  of  ih'is  Jr an dard  of  truth: 
If  the  world  would  but  come  to  this  rule  and  ftandard,  there 
Would  be  no  m.ore  cheating  nor  cozening,  no  more  fraud, 
deceit  nor  diillmul  tion,  nor  v/arand  blooddied;  but  if  m^en 
would,  in  every  thing  they  do,  anfwcr  the  principle  of 
truth  in  them! elves,  they  would  put  the  quedion  to  them- 
feives,  fhall  I  take  up  my  daily  cro's,  or  no  ?  Shall  I  deny 
jnyfeli  tho-e  pleafures  that  my  conscience  doth  condemm  ; 
PAvi  thofe  ungodly  gains  that  I  leek  after  by  falihood,  by  ly- 
ing, prevaricating  and  departing  from  the  truth  ?  Shall  I  do 
tms,  that  I  may  be  rich  and  great  in  the  world,  or  fhall  I  not  ? 

You  know  what  I  fay,  many  of  you,  and  have  put  this 
quexdion  to  yourfelves,  and  fome  have  made  a  good  anlwer 
toit  :  I  will  take  up  my  daily  cro^s,  by  the  grace  of  God  ; 
tl-is  dandard  of  truth  (hall  be  the  rule  of  my  words  and 
aclions,  to  m.y  dying-day. 

They  that  have  learned  this  leffon,  and  obtained  peace  with 
God,  through  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrid,  that  have  not  only  made 
a  resolution,  but  performed  it  in  ad  and  deed,  by  the  power 
of  Chrid's  crois,  they  are  purified,  and  fandified,  and  wadi- 
cd  from  their  old  converfations,  and  hc^ie  their  cctrcerfaticn  i?i 
Hca^jen  ;  that  is,  live  after  a  heavenly  manner,  live  a  godly 
lif2  here  upon  earth,  when  they  have  come  to  this  relolution, 
and  aifo  the  pradice  of  it. 

I  would  dz^^^  and  ii  is  my  labour,  that  }ou  that  hear  me 


The  Standard  of  Truth,  51 

this  day,  who  are  aware  of  what  I  am  fpeaking,  riz.  The 
Standard  of  Truth,  the  principle  of  Tiu.h,  that 
unerring  Guide,  which  is  placed  in  the  conscience  of  every 
man,  and  juftifieth,  or  condemneth,  ^his  adions  and  v/ords. 
You  who  are  come  to  be  aware  of  this,  that  you  mav  ail 
come  to  this  godly  refoiution  in  yourfelvcs,  I  would  have 
this  difputc  carried  on  in  every  one's  boiom.  When  the 
quefiion  is  dated,  1  would  have  you  really  anfwer  it;  ihall  I 
guide  my  adions  and  words  according  to  this  unerring  rule, 
or  no  ?  I  cannot  tell  what  to  (ay,  fay  fome,  there  is  danger 
in  it  :  What  danger  can  there  be  to  anfv/cr  that  which  a  man 
knows  to  be  truth  ?  I  will  tell  you  what  danger :  The  world  is 
perver'e,  and  mod  men  live  out  of  trutii,  and  the  Devil  is  a 
cunning  adverfary,  and  he  would  have  none  live  in  it  :  He 
abode  not  in  the  truth ;  and  he  would  not  have  us  live  in 
it,  nor  regulate  our  words  and  adions  by  the  truth  m  our 
own  fouls :  What  if  moft  men  in  the  world  pervNort  the 
truth  ?  What  if  fo  few  walk  in  the  narrcw  v:ay^  and  fo  few 
come  to  life  eternal;  is  that  an- argument  that  I  mud  not 
come  there  ?  Should  it  not  ftir  me  up  to  greater  diligence, 
that  by  any  means  I  may  be  of  the  number  of  that  few  that 
fhall  obtain  falvation,  and  not  go  withag;reat  company  in  the 
way  that  leads  to  d^ftru(5lion  ?  If  we  im.prove  our  times,  and 
feaions,  and  opportunities,  and  mercies,  and  blefllngs,  that 
are  vouch:^afed  to  us,  we  at  laft  may  obtain  life  etfrnal. 

But  fom.e  .may  fav,  I  mud  fit  ddv/n  in  defpair,  for  I  can- 
not come  thither  of  myfelf,  though  I  do  what  I  can  to  v:Qrk 
cut  my  own  falvation.  There  is  a  decree  againd  me  ;  what,  tho' 
i  iliould  pray  ever  fo  much,  and  fpend  my  nights  in  grief 
and  forrow  ?  If  I  be  decreed  to  eternal  da.mnation,  there 
is  no  help  for  me,  no  hope  that  I  fhould  efcape.  And  if  I 
be  decreed  to  falvation,  though  I  take  my  liberty  to  fm,  and 
be  loo'e  and  wanton,  as  others,  it  cannot  hinder  me  from 
attairing  falvation  at  lad. 

For  this  reafon,  many  have  laid  adde  the  fpiritual  war- 
fare againd  corruption,  and  their  fpiritual  travel,  that  they 
will  do  nothing  in  order  to  their  everlading  happineis  ; 
therefore  they  think  they  had  as  good  take  their  pleafure  :  But, 
my  friends,  the  cafe  is  not  now  fo  with  us ;  let  every  foul 
aiuont;  us  praiie  the  Lord  for  his  mercy,  in  expelling  that 

thick 


<z  The  Standard  of  Truth. 

thick  cloud  of  darknefs,  v/hich  is  vanifhed  and  gone  :  This 
I  know,  and  I  iiape  you  do  all  believe,  that  God  doth  every 
\ihcre,  and  in  every  nation,  call  Tinners  to  repentance,  and 
tha:  /le  dthigkteih  not  in  the  death  of  him  that  dieth,  hut  rather 
th't  they  vould  turn  and  live  ;  and  in  order  thereunto,  he 
hath  given  his  Son,  Jefus  Chrift,  to  be  a  Saviour  and  a  Medi-» 
ator  ;  and  he  h-tth  fejit  forth  the  Spirit  of  his  Son  into  our 
hearts^  to  give  diredion  to  us  in  our  way  :  Now  our  duty  is, 
to  rnake  improvement  of  thofe  vifitations  of  mercy,  that  God 
hadi  bcrio:7ed  upon  us,  in  order  to  our  falvation,  and  not 
live  in  r'ioti;:g  and  dru:zkennefs ,  chambering  and  wantcnnefs^ 
Jt:ife  and  e72vyir:g^  and  following  the  fafhions  of  the  world  : 
Bat  we  mild:  vcork  cut  our  even  falvaticn  with  fear  and  trem- 
bling. 

But  fome  will  fay,  is  not  this  done  already  ?  Is  it  not 
already  wrought  by  our  Saviour  and  Mediator  ?  Chrifi 
hath  tqfted  death  for  every  man,  and  laid  doWn  a  price 
for  the  foul  of  every  man. 

But  yet  there  muft  be  a  change  wrought  in  us  ;  there 
nrufL  be  a  tranfiation  of  our  fouls,  from  one  fate  to  ano- 
ther. This  is  called  in  the  fcripture,  regeneration,  and  be- 
ing born  again  ;  this  is  called  a  being  baptized  into  Chrift, 
and  defcribed  alfo  b)^  other  expreirions":  But  the  matter 
is,  to  change  thy  life;  for  there  is'a  finful  iburce  of  wick- 
cdre  s^  that  is  ftirred  up  by  the  motions  of  the  powers, 
of  darkne!"s,  and  our  own  concupiicence  ',  but  God  is  al- 
ways ready  to  bring  us  under  the  government  of  his  Holy 
Spirit,  th?it  will  lead  us  into  all  truth  ',  and  this  cannot 
be  done  without  a  Crofs.  But  the  c^ueflion  lies  here,  fhall 
I  take  up  this  Crofs  or  no  ?  If  I  do,  it  will  crucify  me 
to  the  ixcrld.  Let  me  fee  ',  how  much  do  I  love  the  world  I 
A  great  deal  :  But  do  I  love  the  world  better  than  my 
own  (oiil  ?  ]Vhat  will  it  proft  me,  to  gain  the  whole  worldy 
crd  Icfe  my  own  foul?  Or  what  fail  I  give  in  exchange 
jpr  j.yy  foul  F  I  cannot  get  to  Heaven  without  denying 
myfelf;  let  me  take  care  of  my  immortal  foul:  lam  a 
poor  creature  ;  I  will  fcvve  the  Lord  my  Maker,  and 
make  ic  my  bufmefs  to  glorify  and  pleafe  him..  He  can 
ir.arch  me  away  by  death  when  he  pleafcth  ;  therefore  will 
1  labour,  that   my  thoughts,  words,  anions  and  convcrfa- 

tion. 


The  Standard  of  Truth,  5^ 

tion,  may  anfwer  to  that  rale  that  he  hath  fet  before  me, 
as  a  ftandard  of  truth,  to  Iquare  and  regulate  my  adions 
by.  I  v/ill  not  live  any  longer  in  vanity,  as  many  do  ; 
I  do  not  know  but  my  breath  may  be  ftopt  to-day,  be- 
fore to-morrow  ;  therefore  to-dciy^  while  it  is  called  torday^ 
I  wiU  hear  God's  voice,  and  not  harden  my  hearty  but  re- 
ceive that  counfel,  that  is  of/ered  to  me,  for  the  benefit 
of  my  foul.  I  am  bought  with  a  price,  I  am  none  of 
my  own  ;  I  will  live  to  him  that  died  for  me  :  I  have 
more  rea'o.i  to  live  to  Chrift,  and  ferve  him,  that  fhed  his 
precious  blood  for  the  redemption  of  my  ibul,  and  to  be 
fubiect  to  him,  than  to  be  fubjed:  to  Chrift's  enemy,  to  the 
prince  of  the  power  of  the  air,  v/ho  rules  in  the  chil^ 
drcn  of  difobedience.  I  v/iU  take  up  a  refolution  to  ferve 
God,  but  I  can  do  nothing  of  myielf ;  but  the  grace  of 
God  which  brings  fahaticj?^  wtH  teach  me  to  deny  lagod-^ 
linefs^  and  wor  dly  lujis^  and  to  live  righteciijly,  fo^erly 
and  gidly,  in  this  prefent  world.  Take  heed  of  being  de- 
ceived and  beguiled,  for  there  is  no  way  will  bring  you 
to   Heaven,  but  a  holy  a!;d  undefiled  wav. 

Therefore,  come  and  take  this  Randard  of  truth  in  your 
hands,  to  guide  you  in  your  vav,  that  you  may  neither 
turn  to  the  right  hand,  nor  to  the  left  :  This  will  ihew 
you  the  way  you  lliould  walk  in,  and  be  like  the  cloud 
and  pillar  of  fire  to  the  Ifraclites,  in  their  journey  taC^- 
92aan,  which  Was  a  type  of  Heaven  ;  the  cloud  they  could 
fee  by  day,  and  the  pillar  of  fire  by  night ;  fo  this  ftand- 
ard  of  truth  will  dired  you  in  your  travel  to  the  hea- 
venly Canaan,  Let  this  be  the  rule  and  meafure  of  your 
thoughts,  words  and  adions. 

If  a  workm.an,  that  is  a  builder,  hath  a  rule  to  work 
by  ;  if  he  goes  on,  and  never  examines  his  work  by  his 
rule,  but  makes  his  eye  his  rule  j  if  be  doth  not  brir.g 
his  rule  to  his  work  every  little  while,  to  fee  whether  his 
work  be  right  ;  if  he  worketh  on,  and  never  minds  his 
rule,  what  fad  work  will  he  make.  But  a  prudent  skil- 
ful workman  will  fay,  I  will  not  truil  mine  eye  too  much, 
but  I  will  look  to  my  rule,  my  rule  w^ill  not  fail  me  ; 
if  there  be  bad  work,  it  will  difcover  it  to  me,  that  I 
may  mend  it   before  I  go  any  further.     Thus  a  di  crcet 

workman 


5'4  Hi  J  Prayer  after  SER/>foi/, 

workman  will  often  bring  his  rule  to  his  work,  and  life 
his  line  and  plummet,  that  he  may  make  it  workman- 
like. He  will  Tay,  if  I  let  my  rule  alone,  and  not  make 
life  of  it,  but  work  as  I  pleafe,  and  truft  to  mine  e)  e, 
no  wonder  if  I  make  bad  work,  and  \c'hat  I  build  iall 
ciovfn  again,  and  tumble  about  mine  ears. 

You  to  whom  God  hath  given  the  ftandard  of  truth, 
as  a  rule  and  meafure  to  govern  your  thoughts,  words  and 
adions  bv,  let  every  thing  be  tried  with  it,  before  you  - 
die,  and  'leave  this  world  :  If  you  do  fo,  and  m.ake  this 
}our  daily  pradice,  theu  ask  yourfelves,  and  you  wiii  be 
able  to  tell  yourfelves,  and  tell  me,  and  fay,  I  have  no"^ 
obtained  more  hopes  of  God's  favour,  and  a  greater  fen fc 
of  his  love  and  goodnefs  to  me,  than  ever  1  had  before. 
The  apodie  doth  exhort  us,  to  ivalk  circumfpe51ly^  ftct  as 
fcclsy  hit  as  vjifi,  reikeming  the  time,  Wq  have  ipent  a 
great  deal  of  time  in  vain,  let  us  now  be  wife,  and  im- 
p'rove  our  time,  for  our  eternal  advantage  ;  let  us  walk 
circumfpedly,  that  is,  look  round  about  us,  confider  our 
Ways,  and  try  all  our  thoughts,  words  and  actions,  by  the 
ftandard  of  truth.  To-day  (my  friends)  vjhile  it  is  caUed 
to-day y  hear  the  voice  of  God,  and  hardest  net  your  hearts^ 
and  receive  that  heavenly  counfel,  that  is  tendered  to  you, 
that  you  may  be  partakers  cf  ths  'inheritance^  anio?2g  the 
faints  in  light. 

His  Prayer  Ojftcr  Sermon. 

jyLESSED  a?7d  eternal  Father  1  then  haft  hrovght  forth 
jD  thy  glorious  name y  and  revealed  thy  poiier  and  thy  mighty 
r.rm;  ana  thou  h.ift  caufed  a  remnant  to  bow  and  v:or flip  at  thy 
4ippearance  :  Thou  art  wonderful  ;  thy  mrjefty  is  great  ;  they 
that  'do  behold  thee,  will,  with  reference,  worfitp  before  thee. 
Thy  paver  is  gene  forth,  and  hath  reached  the  hearts  of  thy 
people  ;  thou  haft  hinnbled  them,,  and  ftbjeBed  them  to  thy 
Divine,  Ahrighty  Power,  that  they  might  appear  in  the  eurth, 
to  the  praife  and  glory  rf  thy  g^eat  na-me. 

And,  O  Lord,  as  thou  haft  begun  a  g-rat  work  in  the  earthy 
fo  thou  haft  cormnitted  this  work  to  thy  fervants  and  children, 
that  bear  thy  name  among  the  fons  of  men,  that  they  faouhl  few 

forth 


His  Prayer  afur  Sermon:  ^^ 

forth  thy  right eoiifnefs,  amcng  the  inhabitants  of  the  earth  ; 
dnd  our  fouls  have  fat d  many  a  time ^  who  is  fufficlent  for 
thefe  things  ?  All  our  fitnefs  and  fufficiencyy  our  tneetnefs  and 
preparation  is  from  thee:  Do  thou  reveal  thy  power  ^  and  mak^ 
hare  thy  Abnighty  arm.  We  have  found  thy  prefence  from 
day  to  dfiyy   and  thou  haft  upheld  them  that  know  thy  love. 

O  glorious  God  of  Life  !  herein  we  have  encouragement  to  go 
an  in  the  work  which  thou  haft  called  us  to  ;  hereby  we  are  ena^ 
bled  to  worftiip  before  thee^  and  to  offer  up  livi?ig  praifes  unto 
thy  great  name,  for  that  refefiment  and  conflation^  which 
thou  haft  miniftered  unto  thy  People. 

A  fid,  O  Living  Father!  we  have  never  "waited  en  thee  iff 
vain  ;  whenfoever  we  have  met  together  in  thy  name,  we  have 
fund  thy  Divine  Prefence,  and  the  opening  of  the  treaftires  of 
thy  love,  of  thy  wifd^m,  and  of  thy  favour  to  thy  children  : 
So  that  from  day  to  day,  and  even  at  this  day,  thou  rememhereft 
thy  people,  and  thon  giveft  them  frefti  ccccfion  to  draw  nigh  to 
thee,  and  receive  their  daily  nouriftiment  andftre?igth,  from  the 
operation  cf.thypovoer. 

O  living  God  of  Life  !  gather  up  the  hearts  of  thy  people 
more  and  morCy  and  draw  them  into  a  nearnefs  to  thy f elf ,  that 
thtir  underflandings  may  be  more  and  more  opened  to  difcern 
thy  willy  and  fubjecl  themfelves  to  thy  wifdom,  that  every 
thought  that  is  exalted  againft  thy  divine  powery  and  livi?:g 
voice,  in  their  own  confciences,  may  be  brought  down  ;  that  fo  all 
the  nations  of  the  earth  may  bow  before  thee  ;  that  fo  thy  truth 
may  reign,  and  thy  power  may  be  exalted,  and  the  righteouf* 
nefs  xvhtch  thou  haft  revealed,  may  ftiine  forth  more  and  more, 
in  the  brlghtnefs  and  glory  of  it,  and  enlighten  thofe  that  are 
afar  off,  that  they  may  be  brought  to  feek  after  God, 

And,  Living  God  of  Life  1  let  thofe  that  are  bowed  down 
under  the  weight  of  fin ,  bo  fupported  and  raifed  up  ;  and  thofe 
that  are  vceary  and  heavy  laden,  let  them  have  reft  to  their 
fouls. 

Powerful  God  cf  Life  I  keep  thy  people  in  a  frefti  and  living 
fenfe  of  thy  love,  and  of  thy  heavenly  'virtue^  by  which  thou 
nouriftieft  thy  children,  and  fctisfieft  them  from  day  to  day  ; 
not  only  vjhen  they  nre  met  tcgether,  but  vjhen  they  are  feparat^ 
ed  from  one  another^  Let  thy  people  he  preferved  from  the 
■  e^v'il   of  the  vjorldy  while  they   are  ::i  i^\  and  let  thy  vjifdG?n 

a'iid 


^6  The  Grkat  Duty  of 

and  power  give  them  viSlory  over  it,  that  thou  may  eft  have  tht 
gory  of  ail  thy  mersia-  and  hlejfng:.,  louchfafec  to  their.  For 
thou  ahne  art  v:orthyy  who  art  God  ever  ai\  bhjfed  forever^ 
and  ever*     Amen. 

S  E  R  M  O  N    V. 

The  Great  Duty  cf  Remembering  our 
CREATOR. 

Preached  at  DEVONSHIRE-HOUSE,    ^pril  (5,    i6p5. 

HERE  is  only  c?7e  Ircing  and  true  God,  Creator 
of  Heave.'i  and  earth,  ^xiioni  we  are  obliged  to  ferve 
and  worfhip  :  I  have  fo  much  charit^' as  to  believe, 
there  arc  none  among  us,  but  mil  own  and  acknowledge  this : 
And  my  foul  wi  heth,  that  this  obligation  did  always  reft 
upon  every  one's  mind,  that  they  might  remember  their 
Creator,  that  hath  given  us  all  life  and  breath,  and  continued 
all  our  bleffings  to  us  ',  that  To  every  one  might  apply  their 
hearts  unto  that  univerfal  duty,  that  we  are  all  convinced  of. 

And  thev  that  are  thus  employed  and  exercifed,  they  are 
conli  kring  how,  and  after  what  manner,  they  may  quit  and 
di -^charge  their  duty,  and  perform  the  obligation  that  lies 
upon  them,  fo  that  it  may  be  accepted  at  the  hands  of  God  ; 
I  fpeak  now  of  tho^e  that  are  confiderate,  not  of  tho^e  that 
go  on  in  a  form  of  religion,  and  matter  not,  nor  regard  whe- 
ther they  are  accepted  of  God  or  no  ;  but  all  that  are  conici- 
entious  towards  God,  they  are  defn-ous  to  ferve  God,  and 
worihip  him,  fo  as  they  may  be  acceptable  to  him,  fo  to 
perform  duties  that  thev  may  receive  their  reward,  and  that 
encouragement  that  God  in  all  ages  hath  difcovered,  and  made 
manifcll  to  be  in  his  purpofe  towards  them  that  truly  ferve 
him. 

Xvhen  people  come  to  this  confideration,  how  they  may 
ferve  God  aright,  and  worihip  him  acceptably,  the  Lord  is 
nigh  unto  them,  to  inftrud  them,  to  teach  them,  and  guide 
themx  in  that  way  that  is  everlading  :  And,  bleffsd  be  his  holy 

name  I 


Remembering  cur  Creator,  ^y 

name  !  a  great  many  in  our  clays,  have  met  with  this  divine 
teaching  and  inftruclion ;  and  are  taught  in  this  age,  as  in 
former  ages,  to  underftand  the  worfnip  of  God  that  he  re- 
quires ;  that  is,  in  fpirit  and  truth  j  and  do  find,  that  the 
Father  doth  feek  fuch  worihippers,  and  where  he  finds  them^ 
rewards  them,  and  they  have  an  anfwer  of  peace  in  their 
bofoms,  and  they  are  encouraged  to  go  on  in  the  worfiiip  and 
fervice  of  God,  to  the  end  of  their  days. 

And  it  is  a  great  mercy  and  benefit  ,*  a  great  blelling  that 
God  hath  beftowed  upon  a  remnant,  to  open  their  under- 
ftandings,  to  let  them  fee  and  know  the  way  of  being  near 
to  God,  that  fo  they  may  know  whomx  they  woriliip  -,  for  you 
have  read,  there  have  been  worihippers,  that  do  worlhip  they 
know  not  what  :  As  our  Saviour  faid  to  the  woman  oi 
Samaria^  you  vjorjliip  you  know  ?20t  whet ;  we  hzovj  what  v:e 
worjhip  :  So  all  that  are  taught  of  God,  do  know  which  is 
the  firft  ledon  of  Chriftianity,  as  the  apofiie  faith  ;  he  thj:t 
torneth  to  God,  mufl  firft  knoiv  and  believe ,  that  he  is  ;  that 
is,  people  mufl:  firft  be  fenfible,  that  there  is  a  God,  and  that- 
he  is  a  rewarder  of  them  that  diligently  feek  him,  before  they 
can  rightly  worfhip  him. 

Now,  for  want  of  this  knov/ledge,  the  world  is  fcattered, 
and  people  are  divided  into  a  great  miany  forts"  of  Vv^orihips, 
and  fafhions,  and  ways  of  religions,  for  want  of  die 
knowledge  of  the  true  worfhip,  of  the  true  and  living  God  ; 
fo  that  though  men  are  univerfally  convinced,  that,  there 
is  a  God,  and  that  a  worlhip  is  due  to  him  from  every  one 
of  us  '-,  yet  people  are  confounded,  fcattered,  and  divided 
about  the  performance  of  their  great  duty  ;  and  in  the  day 
that  the  Lord  hath  vifited  his  people,  he  hath  come  to  anfwer 
this  doubt,  and  queftion  for  them  ;  it  harh  been  the  great 
queftion  of  the  world,  and  is  flill  of  many  thoufands  j  I 
know  we  fhould  worfhip  God,  but  I  know  not  the  way  and 
manner  wherein  to  find  acceptance  :  The  Lord  hath  anfwer- 
ed  that  queflion  in  abundance  j  they  that  have  ears  to  hear, 
let  theyn  hear  what  the  Spirit  faith  ;  there  is  a  ihort  anfwer  to 
it  in  all. 

Let  people  profefs  what  religion  they  will,  there  is  no 
acceptance  with  God,  but  through  Chriii  :  So  that  if  people 
come  to  be  of  this,  and  that,  and  the  other   profeflion,   and 

H  chan7e 


5^  The  Great  Duty  of 

change  their  religion  ever  fo  often ,  and  go  from  one  religion 
TO  another,  if  they  come  not  to  Chrift,  they  come  not  to 
him  in  whom  they  may  lind  acceptance  ;   in  him  God  is 
pleafed 'vC'ith  every  one;  but  out  of  him  he  is  pleafed  with  no 
one.     The   great   myflery  of  rehgion  lies  in  Chrift  j  people 
niuft  come  to   God,   by  faith  inhAm;forivhhoutfanh,  It 
is  iriipoffible  to  pleafe  God.     Let-people  perform  ever  io  much 
fervice  and  duties,    all  muft  pais   through  the  hand  of  the 
Mediator,    before   ever  their   performance  will   reach  unto 
God,  or  before  peace  and  comfort  will  reach  to  any  man*s  foul. 
Therefore,  it  is  the  wifeft  wav  for  everv  one,  that  would  have 
acceptance  v/ith  God,   to  come  to  him,  in  the  name  of  Lhe 
great  Mediator.      People  would  be  glad  to  have  acceptance 
wim  God,  anxi  not  to  have  their  ferviccs  turned  back  upon 
them,  as  Cains  was  :  Now,  every  one  that  will  have  accep- 
tance with  God,  muft  (pome  this  way  ;  there  is  but  one  way, 
it  is  not  the  way  that  men  have  invented  j    Tome  by  their 
works  and  merits.  Tome   by  their  made-faiths,    and   made- 
briicfs,   and  by  divers  articles  and   principles,   holding  this 
principle,  and  the  other  principle  ;  but  our  Lord  and  Cre- 
ator, he  hath  found  out  one  way,  in  his  infinite  wildom,  and 
unrpeakable  mercy  to  mankind,  that  was  forever  loft,  and 
could  never  -return  to  God,   by  all   his   facriftces,  .offerings 
and  performances ;  he  was  never  able  to   return  into  unity 
with  his  Maker,  if  God  had  not  found  out  a  way-j  and  th& 
way  that  God  hath  found  out,  is  by  his  beloved  Son  Chrift 
Jefus  :   God  [pared  72ot  :   He  fpared  not  what  ?  He  fpared  not 
bis  only  begotten  Son  :   W\iy,  what   did  he  do  with  him  ? 
He  gwve  kim  for  the  life  of  the  ivcrld  ;   in  him  that  God  gave,, 
there  is  life.      It  pleafedthe  Lord  that  hrs  So7tJliould  have  life 
in  him^  as  the  Father  had  life  in  hi?nfef ;   for  Chrift  was  ivith 
the  Father  before  the  vjorld  l>egan  ;    in  him  v:as  life,    and  tl^e 
life  vjas  the  light  of  men  ;  John  i.   4.     It  was  no  created  life  ; 
that  life  that  is  in  his  Son,  is  not  a  created  life,  but  is  an 
eternal  life,    and  it  v/as  given  for  the  life  of  the  world,   and 
th?     life  is  the  light  of  men  :    This  is  the  true  light,  ivhick 
lyghteth   every  won  that   cometh  into  the  ivorld.     So  that  here 
is  the  dignity  of  that  life  which  God  hath  beftowed  upon  us  j 
we  are  endued  with  that  life,  which  Was  with  the  Father 
through  Jeius  Chrift,  before  the  "^"orld  x^as.     Let  us  confidei' 
thsUigiiity  of  that  light,  that  we  are  lighted  with.   \,      The 


Remembering  cur  Creator,  5j? 

The  queftion  is,  whether  v/e  fhould  obey  this  light,  or 
no  :  It  is  the  queftion  of  every  oviC  ;  I  am  enlightenc:d, 
faith  a  man,  fhaif  I  obey  it,  or  no  ?  If  I  obey,  I  muft 
take  up  a  crofs,  and  part  with  my  beloved  luft  and  cor- 
ruption. No  doubt  of  that  ;  we  muR  perfuade  people  to 
do  that,  before  we  can  bring  them  to  Heaven  and  hap- 
pinefs,  and  fellowship  with  God  ;  it  muft  not  be  by  that 
way  they  loft  it,  but  by  the  contrary  v/ay,  by  w^hirh  God 
ti'iil  bring  m.en  to  happinefs  again.  They  loft  it  by  trani- 
greflion,  and  finning  againft  God  ;  by  this  way  and  means 
men  came  out  of  the  prefence  and  favour  of  God  ;  But 
Vhat  wav  fhall  thev  obtain  it  again  ?  Shall  it  be  by  com- 
mitting  iniquity,  and  breaking  God's  law  ?  No  ',  here  is 
the  way  that  God  hath  found  out,  to  bring  poor  m^an 
back  again  to  himfelf,  by  the  fufferings  and  obedience  of 
his  Son,  Jefus  Chrift  :  He  hath  giien  to  him  all  paver  in 
Heaven  a'ad  Earth,  that  all  ihould  be  fubjed  to  him;  herer 
is  a  dignity  which  Chrift  hath  obtained. 
•  It  comxcs  to  the  queftion  with  us,  whether  we  are.^er.- 
lightcned  ?  now  we  know  we  are  enlightened  ;  God'^ftath 
beftowed  fomething  upon  us,  that  wars  and  fights  againft 
fin  and  iniquity.  How  cam.e  we  by  it  ?  Is  it  any  fa- 
culty in  nature  ?    No ;  nature  is  corrupted  and  defiled,  be- 


ts 


caufe  the  carnal  mi7id  is  enmity  againft  God  ;  for  it 
not  fubjeci  to  the  law  cf  God,  neither  indeed  can  he  ;  yet 
there  is  fomxCthing  in  me  that  anfwers  the  pure  law  of 
God,  which  m.akes  me  to  hate  things  that  are  reprovable  ^ 
that  is,  light :  How  came  I  by  it  ?  It  is  not  natural ,  for 
then  it  would  run  parallel  with  the  natural  inclination  that 
is  in  m.y  foul,  to  lead  me  further  and  further  from  God. 
Thefe  are  fet  in  oppofition  one  againft  another,  the  fieili 
and  the  fpirit  ;  the  fief.i  lufteth  againft  the  fpirit,  and  the 
fpirit  'agai?ift  the  fiefh.  Here  is  part  of  an  inward  war, 
that  you  may  all  be  fenfibie  of.  Now,  thefe  two  warri- 
ors, the  fiefti  and  the  fpirit,  make  war  one  againft  ano- 
ther, and  one  of  them  is  overcome.  It  is  true,  there  is 
fuch  a  principle  in  me,  that  ftrives  againft  ftn  and  cor- 
ruption :  How  came  you  by  it  ?  If  you  believe  the  fcrip- 
tures,  I  fay,  it  is  the  life,  of  the  Son  of  God,  that  light-^ 
ctk  every  -man  that  ccnisth  into  the  ivorld.     Now,   man}^  that 

have 


(^0  The  Great  Duty  of 

have  rejefled  and  defpiled  the  Hght,  I  believe  they  did 
not  think,  at  the  fame  time,  to  mock  and  make  a  Icorn 
of  the  life  of  Jefus,  tho'  it  was  really  fo  :  But  if  people 
come  to  a  true  efteem  and  value  of 'that  hght  that  God 
hath  planted  in  the  foul,  they  will  give  more  reverence 
and  reipeCc  to  it.  It  is  this  tliat  brings  thofe  that  preach 
Chrift,  to  preach  him  in  thofe  terms,  and  under  thofe  de- 
nominations, that  he  is   nigh  them. 

We  do  not  doubt  of  Chrift's  being  born  of  a  Virgin,  in 
the  land  of  Canaan^  and  that  he  wrought  miracles,  and 
preached  m^any  godly  fermons,  and  that  he  was  crucified, 
dead  and  buried,  and  rofe  again  from  the  dead,  for  thefe 
things  are  certainly  true  :  But  we  would  have  him  our  Sa- 
viour in  this  age,  v/e  would  have  a  nearer  knowledge  of  him, 
and  a  fenie  and  feeling  of  the  virtue  of  that  power,  by  which 
lie  faved  them  that  lived  in  former  ages :  He  is  not  a  Chrift 
and  a  Saviour  of  one  age  only,  but  of  all  ages  to  this  day  j 
from  Adam.,  to  the  laif  man  that  iliall  live  upon  the  earth. 
That  age  and  generation  that  knoweth  not  Chrill:,  will  not  be 
Javed  by  him,  if  there  be  any  age  wherein  he  is  not  known  : 
There  is  no  ether  7i2:ne  under  tlsa'cen  byxvhich  youcan  be  faved. 
If  you  ask  where  is  this  Saviour  ?  Say  not  in  thy  heart.,  ivho 
fkall  afcend  into  Heaven  ?  that  is,  to  bring  down  Chrift  from 
above  ;  or,  .who  fall  defcend  i?2to  the  deep,  that  is  to  bring  up 
Chriji  again  from  the  dead  ?  The  word  is  nigh  thee,  even  in 
thy  mcmhy  and  in  thy  heart ;  that  is  the  word  of  faith,  which 
we  preach.  He  is  nigh  thy  foul,  he  is  the  Lord  of  life,  and 
a  quickening  Spirit,  if  I  know  that  quickening  Spirit,  after 
thi5  I  know  the  Lord  Chrift  ',  when  he  comes  to  work  in 
me  by  his  power,  changing  my  heart,  and  tranflating  me  from 
death  to  iifc,  then  I  know  the  true  Chrift :  God  hath  mani- 
kftcd,  in  all  ages,  that  it  is  the  duty  of  people  to  come  to  the 
kno'v<dedge  of  the  Son  of  God;  for  he  hath  fent  foHh  his 
Spirit   to  teach  us,  and  to  lead  us  into  all  truths 

For  when  Chrift  v/as  with  his  difciples,  he  told  them  that 
he  would  pray  the  Father,  and  he  \[\ou\Afcnd  the  Spirit^  the 
comforter ;  and  when  he  came,  he  would  be  known  by  his 
divine  and  inward  teachings  and  operations,  guiding  and 
leading  them  into  all  truth  ;  that  was  his  ^^'ork  to  them  :  But 
Vi'hat  ihall  odicr  folks  do  ?  He  will  be  made  known  to  others 

too  : 


Remembering  our  Creator.  ,'      ^r 

too  :  When  he  comes,  he  fhall  convi7ice  the  ivorld  of  fin  : 
So  that  his  work  to  his  difciples  \x^as,  to  lead  them  into  all 
truth  ;  and  his  work  to  the  world  is,  to  convince  the  ivorld  of 
fin  :  Who  will  deny,  but  that  there  is  a  Spirit  in  our  age, 
as  well  as  in  other  ages,  that  will  convince  men  of  fm  ? 
Is  this  the  Spirit  of  God,  that  convinceth  the  world  of  fin, 
or  is  it  the  fpirit  of  the  Q^UJl  KERS  only  ?  When  peo- 
ple come  to  confider  really  and  truly,  how  they  may  fervc 
God  aright,  they  will  find  there  is  no  ferv in g  God  aright, 
unlefs  they  come  to  Chrift  the  Mediator,  that  in  and  by  him 
they  may  put  up  fupplications  to  God  ',  and  through  him, 
they  may  exped:  at  the  hand  of  God,  peace  and  comfort ; 
and  there  is  no  other  way,  nor  ever  will  be. 

The  Jews,  they  had  another  way,  they  had  an  outward 
way  of  ferving  God  ',  this  ftood  in  divers  offerings,  fiicrifices, 
Wafhings  and  obfervations  ;  this  was  a  way  of  worfhip  of 
God's  own  inftitution  to  that  people  ',  but  what  came  of  it  ? 
When  the  apoftle  came  to  grafp  it,  he  faid,  the  comers  there- 
unto, were  not  made  perfect  :  What  were  the  tranfgreflbrs 
of  it  then  ?  They  that  would  fin  on,  and  continue  in  fin, 
and  not  bring  a  goat,  or  a  ram,  or  other  oblation  j  they  that 
did  obferve  it,  and  came  up  to  the  point  of  the  law,  they 
did  bring  their  offering  when  they  w'ere  convinced  of  their 
fin:  If  a  man  finned,  he  was  to  bring  an  he-goat,  and  to 
bring  it  to  the  door  of  the  tabernacle  j  but  when  he  fin- 
ned, the  confcience  of  fin,  the  guilt  of  fin  remained  upon 
him.  For  it  ivas  impojfible,  faith  the  apoftle,  that  the 
blood  of  bulls  and  goats  fhould  take  avcay  the  fin  :  For  if  the 
blood  of  bulls  and  goats y  and  the  ajhes  of  a  heifer  fprinkling 
the  unclean,  fanBtfieth,  to  the  purifying  oftheflefhy  Uow  muck 
more  fhall  the  blood  of  Chrifl  (ivho,  through  the  eternal  Spirit, 
offered  hi?rf elf  without  fpot  to  God)  purge  your  confciences  fro?n 
dead  works,  to  ferve  the  living  God. 

When  there  is  no  hope  of  atonement  and  reconciliation 
with  God,  by  all  thofe  offerings  under  the  law,  he  tells  you 
of  one  offering  of  the  Sen  of  God  hi?nfelf,  through  the  eternal 
Spirit,  by  which  he  became  a  propitiation  ;  for  this  will  do  ; 
if  I  believe  that  Chrift  offered  an  holy  offering  to  the  Father 
for  my  fins,  I  believe  he  offered  his  body,  and  that  through 
the  eternal  Spirit,  that  he  mjghc  be  a  propitiation  for  fin,  and 

take 


Cz  The  Great  Duty  of 

tcike  away  fin,  and  have  power  over  fin  and  death,  and  con- 
quer death  and  darknefs :  The  apoflle  drives  the  matter  fur- 
ther;  you  mull:  come  to  the  inward  work  of  this  outward 
offering,  this  eternal  offering,  that  \y/as  in  due  time  offered 
to  God  j  ycu  muft  come  to  knov/  the  operations  of  it,  by 
the  fprinklmg  of  the  heart  from  an  e-oil  confcience- :  So  that 
there  was  to  be  an  appiicatory  faith  for  the  offering  of  that. 
The  way  to  a  Saviour  was  not  made  by  man,  no  more  than 
the  way  of  falvation  by  Chrift  xv^as  found  out  by  man;  no 
more  than  the  application  of  the  benefit  is  effeded  by  m^an. 

Wien  it  pleaieth  God  to  call  a  people  by  his  grace,  he 
calleth  them  by  his  Son;  not  by  this  and  the  other  form  : 
No  man  cometh  to- mey  faith  Ch rift,  except  the  Favher^  vchich 
hath  fent  me,  draiv  kirn.  The  firft  thing  that  a  m.an  or 
woman  comes  to  be  aware  of,  is  the  fecret  fenfe  and  feel- 
ing of  the  Lord's  Divine  Power  up6n  the  h-eart,  to  feek 
Chriii  Jefus  ;  as  foon  as  they  feel  this,  and  embrace  it, 
this  is  a  token  of  the  love  of  God.  I  hope  all  this  con- 
gregation will  acknowledge,  that  they  have  fometimes  felt 
his  drawings,  and  that  they  have  not  embraced  and  clo fed 
Xvith  them   fo  well  as  they  ought. 

When  people  are  aware  of  thefe  drawings  inwardly  to 
holinefs  and  righteournefs,  and  are  fenfible  that  they  ihould, 
with  care  and  attention,  clofe  with  them,  for  the  good 
of  their  poor  fouls  ;  and  that  it  concerns  them  to  be  hap- 
py m  the  other  world  that  is  to  come,  and  therefore  re- 
iolve  to  be  led  by  thefe  drawings  of  the  Spirit  of  God, 
thefc  are  not  v/eeds- that  grow  in  the  fields  naturally  ; 
thefe  are  Sparks  of  Divine  Fire,  kindled  in  the  hearts  of 
men  by  God  hinifelf :  No  m.an  comes  unto  God,  till  God 
comes  to  him,  and  touches  him,  and  gives  him  \Qn(t  and 
motion  :  Tliefe  are  the  motions  and  ftirrings  of  God's 
Holy  Power,  in  the  hearts  of  many  that  are  wicked  ^.nd 
abominable  ; -yet  the  Lord  doth  not  defpife  the  work  of 
i|is   own  hand,  but  reachcth   to  fuch. 

X^hen  the  Lord  meets  with  thofe  that  defpife  not,  but 
highly  prize  this  wonderful  grace,  and  clofe  with  it,  and 
are  glad  of  it.  Rich  a  one  faith,  I  feared  that  the  Lord 
had  forgotten  me,  and  had  palfcd  by  me,  and  had  done 
v/ith  m.e  ;  but  I   fee  he  vifits  me  again,    and  he  hath  vi- 

fited 


Remembering  cur  Creator.  C^ 

ficed  my  foul  this  day,  inclining  me  to  wallc  more  anCwer- 
ably  to  his  lov£  ;  he  hath  doubled  his  power  upon -me, 
and  hath  kindled  a  holy  fire  in  my  heart,  and  caufed  mt 
to  feek  after  him  ;  he  hath  touched  my  heart,  and  I  v/ill 
pour  out  my  foul  in  fupplication  j  feeing  he  hath  touched 
me, :  he  will  take  'hold  of  me  by  his  power,  and  he  will 
keep  me  from  being  any  more,  drawn  away  :  I  will  jive 
in  the  fenfe  of  his  power  and  mercy,  that  keeps  me  night 
and  day,  that  I  may  encreafe  in  it,  and  grow  in  grace. 
"V7hen  the  Lord  meets  with  fuch  a  one,  he  .Y/ili  draw  him 
into  the  way  that  he  hath  appointed:  None  ca?i  come  un- 
to fncy  faith  Chrift,  except  the  Father^  which  hath  fent  me, 
firaiu  him.  If  I  am  drawn,  into  what  form  fhall  I  go 
now  ?  and  what  ordinance  fliall  I  take  up  now  ?  This  is 
ail  under  feet ;  this  is  none  of  iny  work  ;  I  will  come  to 
Chrift  the  Mediator,  and  he  will  take  the  government  and 
rule  of  me  :  It  is  not  my  bed  way  to  ftudy  a  form, 
and  an  outfide  religion  ;  I  will  wait  upon  that  power  that 
hath  thus  touched  my  heart,  that  he  may  by  degrees  bring 
me  to   the  obedience  of  Chrift. 

But  fome  are  ready  to  fay,  who,  and  what  is  this  Chrift 
Jefus  that  you  are  fpeaking  of  j  that  immediate  Chrift  Jefus 
that  is  extant  and  prefent,  that  I  am  to  have  to  be  the  objed 
of  my  faith  ;  that  I  m^ay  beheve  in  him,  and  come  to  an  ac- 
cjuaintance  with  him,  that  I  may  partake  of  the  life  of  Jeius 
Chrift,  and  have  ic  comimunicated  to  my  foul  ? 

Wc  have  not  a  thought,  or  a  word  to  fpeak,  that  may 
derogate  from  the  wonderful  grace  of  Chrift,  who  died  in  his 
perfon  on  earth  for  the  falvation  of  our  fouls  :  Yet  we  muft 
know,  that  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  may  be  fpiritually  prefent 
with  us,  and  take  the  government  of  us,  and  we  arc  to  be 
fubjett  to  him  :  How  Ihall  this  be  ?  I  am  fpeaking  of  one  that 
hath  felt  the  Father's  drawings,  when  he  draws  them  to  his 
Son,  and  draws  them  to  lomething  that  is  holy  and  pure : 
This  God  the  Father  hath  begotten  :  "^e  read  in  fcripture, 
that  God  hath  begotten  Chrift^  ivho  is  the  cnly  begotten  of  the 
Father.  It  is  ftrange,  you  will  fay,  to  fpeak  of  begetting 
Chrift  again,  God  begets  Chrift  again,  that  is,  fpiritually  ; 
he  being  the  firft  born  in  many  brethren,  in  every  true  believ- 
er, and  there  is  a.  travel  of  foul  that  Chrift  may  be  form.ed 

in 


64  The  Great  Duty  of 

in  him.  See  what  travel  of  foul  the  apoftle  Paul  falls  into 
the  fecond  time,  for  the  Galatians.  They  were  a  brave 
people,  they  worfhiped  God  in  Spirit,  and  believed  in 
Chrift  Jefus,  and  afterwards  they  came  to  be  feduced  by  falfe 
prophets,  and  falfe  teachers,  that  fet  them  about  their  works, 
and  told  them  they  could  not  be  juftified  and  faved  without 
their  own  works :  Thefe  falfe  teachers  that  came  among  them, 
were  as  bad  as  Popilh  priefts  and  friars.  It  is  not  your  obe- 
dience to  Chrift,  and  the  Spirit,  that  will  fave  you,  you  muft 
be  doing  :  So  thefe  poor  people  were  deluded  and  bewitched  ; 
and  to  give  you  the  apoftle*s  own  words,  they  were  infa- 
tuated, and  draivn  away  from  the  ftmpliclty  of  the  gofpel,  and 
they  thought  by  the  works  of  the  law  to  obtain  falvation  : 
The  apoftie  writes  a  letter  to  them,  and  tells  them  that  he 
travelled  in  birth  again,  till  Chrift  was  formed  i;i  them.  If 
this  was  not  fcripture,  it  would  look  like  a  ftrange  work  ; 
there  muft  be  a  forming  of  Chrift,  a  birth  there  muft  be,  and 
a  begetting  :  'V^'ho  muft  beget  in  this  and  that  moment,  but 
the  fame  that  begat  from  the  beginning  ?  the  fame  is  the 
Father,  he  begets  Chrift  in  all  that  believe  and  obey  the  gof- 
pel.  He  is  begetting  fomething  in  m^e  that  is  holy,  though  I 
be  unholy  ;  the  Father,  by  the  operation  of  his  divine  hand, 
begets  fomething  in  me  that  is  holy.  This  I  find,  though  I 
am  not  fo  good  as  I  fhould  be  ;  I  have  that  given  me,  that 
will  tell  me,  that  the  more  I  adhere  and  join  myfelf  in  my 
defires  and  affedions  to  this  good  principle,  the  more  I  fhail 
partake  of  the  quahty  of  it  j  this  good  principle,  though  it 
be  like  a  little  grain  of  mujtard-feed,  I  cannot  tell  what  to 
compare  it  to  for  littlenefs,  in  comparifon  of  the  great  lump 
and  mafs  of  fm,  corruption  and  filthinefs,  that  wars  againft 
it;  yet  this  will  overfpread  all  that  is  bad,  and  make  me 
holy,  as  that  is  holy  ;  pure  as  that  is  pure,  and  to  have  a 
love  for  him,  from  whom  it  came,  even  to  Chrift  and  God  ; 
it  will  gather  the  afFedions  from  corruptible  things,  and 
place  them  upon  things  above. 

This  faith  tells  people  that  it  is  the  fuhftance  of  things  hoped 
for,  and  the  evidence  of  things  not  feen  ;  fuch  a  one  lives 
by  faith,  fuch  a  one  that  comes  to  be  joined  to  that,  that 
is  begotten  of  the  father,  he  lives  by  the  faith  of  the  Son  of 
God,^d.vA  can  do  nothing  of  himfelf,  but  through  Chrift  that 

ftrengthens 


Rememberin'g  our  Creator.  65 

flrengthens  him;  he  fays  unto  God,  I  perceive  I  can  do 
nothing  without  thee  ;  I  cannot  pray  unto  thee,  nor  ierve 
thee  ;  of  myrelf  I  can  do  nothing  acceprab]}^,  but  through 
Clirift  the  Mediator ;  iuch  a  one  becomes  hke  a  htile.cbiid, 
and  he  muft  be  led ;  and  who  muft  lead  him,  but  the  Spirit 
of  Chrift  ? 

You  canjiot  pre?xh,  fays  one  to  him,  unlefs  you  be  moved 
by  the  Spirit  :  You  cannot  pray  until  you  be  moved  bv  the 
Spirit :  How  fhould  I  ?  No^  without  him  I  can  do  nothing, 
I  cannot  preach,  nor  pray,  nor  do  any  thing  acceptable  to 
God  the  Father,  but  by  Chrift ;  and  he  hath  revealed  him  in  me. 

This  is  no  new  doctrine,  we  fee  the  new  and  living  wav  -,  • 
it  v/as  an  old  way  to  old  Chriflians,  and  a  new  way  to  the 
new  ',  and  fo  a  thoufand  years  hence,  if  the  world  lads  To 
long,  men  will  fee  that  they  cannot  do  any  thing  pleafmg  to 
God,  but  as  they  arc  gathered  into  Chrift  ;  they  will  fee  their 
own  righteoufnefs,  works  and  doings,  will  avail  them  nothing 
at  all.  This  is  all  laid  at  the  feet  of  Jefus,  whom  God  hath 
exalted  to  be  a  Prince  and  a  Saviour,  to  be  Lord  and  King. 

Now,  my  friends,  we  are  engaged  in  this  age,  abundantly 
engaged,  to  offer  thanks  to  God,  through  Jeius  Chriu,  tliat 
he  hath  provided  and  opened  a  way  for  the  fending  forth  the 
Spirit  of  his  Son  :  And  that  God  hath  gathered  a  people, 
and  hath  made  known  to  them  the  wav  of  life,  that  they  mjghc 
wallc  in  it ;  but  there  is  no  walking  in  it,  but  through  a  daily 
crofs,  and  felf-denial.  It  is  not  likely  that  a  man  ihould  be 
brought  back  to  God  the  fame  way  that  he  went  out  from 
God ;  and  the  prophets  and  apoflles  do  allude  to  this  turning 
to  God  ;  when  thou  turneft  afide  to  the  right  hand  or  to  the  Icft^ 
thou  fiiaJt  hear  a  voice  hehi?idtheey  faying,  this  is  the  way,  xvalk 
in  it.  There  is  a  voice,  that  calls  to  people  in  our  da^/s,  to 
look  behind  them,  for  they  are  out  of  the  way.  This  pro- 
phecy is  fulfilled  in  our  day ;  we  cannot  turn  away  from  the 
good  ways  of  God,  but  we  m.ay  hear  a  voice  behind  us,  fay- 
ing, thou  art  fmning  againft  God,  and  breaking  the  holy  law 
of  God.  Now,  if  people  return,  it  muft  be  by  the  crofs  : 
I  will  not  return  to  God,  faith  one  ;  I  have  plesfure,  profit, 
and  honour,  and  whatfoever  my  heart  can  delire,  in  this  e^il 
way  that  I  am  walking  in ;  if  I  return,  I  fliall  have  nothing 
but  fname  and  reproach  ^   I  ihali  be  undone  and  ruined,  and 

I  I 


66  The  Great  Duty  of 

I  faali  lofe  the  favour  and  friendihip  of  my  fnends  and  rela- 
tions ;  I  cannot  return  to^God,  but  through  a  daily  crofs, 
and  felf-denial  :  \Fhat  then  ?  It  is  likelier  to  be  the  right 
way,  by  this  bearing  the  crofs.  Chrifl  tells  us,  if  any  will 
come  after  we^  let  him  deny  himfelf^  and  take  up  his  crofs 
and  foUovo  me.  This  voice  of  Chrifl:  calls  me  to  repent 
and  turn  from  fin,  and  giveth  m.e  a  flrong  argument,  that 
it  is  true  ;  that  it  is  the  fame  way  that  will  bring  me 
back  to  God,  by  the  Mediator.  It  brings  its  oWn  evi- 
dence with  it  ;  we  need  no  argument  to  prove  that  it  is 
a  right  way  ;  it  is  a  right  way,  becaufe  it  is  the  narrow 
way  ;  it  is  the  right  gate,  becaufe  it  is  the  Jtrait  gate. 
Every  body  can  walk  m  the  broad  way  with  eafe,  with 
out  any  crofs. 

When  people  are  come  thus  far,  that  they  are  convinced 
of  their  duty,  when  they  are  called  to  amend  their  lives 
and  converfations,  to  forfake  their  lives  and  turn  to  the 
Lord,  this  is  the  great  quefiion,  have  I  power  to  do  this  ? 
This  Quedion  hath  ftumbied  a  great  manv,  when  they  have 
fome  beginning  thoughts  of  turning  to  the  Lord  ;  and  at 
laft  they  have  fettled  themfelves  in  a  belief  that  they  can- 
not do  it  5*  it  is  true,  and  nothing  truer,  that  men,  con- 
vinced of  their  fins,  have  not  power  to  leave  their  fins  of 
thernfelves  ;  this  is  true,  but  not  all  the  truth  ;  to  men 
that  God  convinceth  of  fin,  he  gives  them  power  to  be 
made  willing  to  forfake  their  fins.  He  hath  given  power 
to  all  that  are  in  Chrift  Jefus,  to  believe  and  become  the  fons 
of  God  ;  then  they  ha-ve  denied  ungodlinefs  and  worldly  lufts^ 
if  they  be  the  fons  of  God,  and  live  righteonfly,  foherly 
a'nd  godly ^  in  the   world. 

But  what  fhall  they  do  thnt  are  fenfible  they  have  not 
power  to"  forfake  their  fm,  till  God  is  pleafed  to  give  them 
pov  er  ?  Such  have  nothing  to  do  but  to  wait  upon  the 
.Lord,  for  the  giving  of  this^  power  j  and  there  is  a  duty 
incumbent  on  them  then  to  anfwer  this  power.  The  apofcle, 
upon  this  fubjed-,  tells  us  what  people  are  to  do  for  their  own 
:-nverrion.  He  afcribes  the  power  of  con veriion  to  Chrid 
jcius  :  The  prophets- and  apoftles,  they  tell  us,  there  is 
fomeching  for  man  to-do,  that  is,  if  he  hath  not  power, 
h.  ::.  to  he  willing  to  receive  it.  The  apofde  hath  a  no- 
table 


Remembering  our  Creator,  6y 

table  expreflion  to  this  purpofe  ;  he  puts  them  in  mind, 
how  they  ufed  to  do  by  the  devil,  when  they  were  the 
devil's  fervants  ;  they  did  obey  his  commands,  and  yield- 
ed their  m.embers  fervants  to  unrighteourncfs  :  How  did  they 
yield  ?  They  did  it  heartily,  with  pleafure  and  delight. 
Thus  you  did  when  you  did  not  know  the  power  of  God  ; 
but  now  you  are  come  to  the  knowledge  of  the  power 
of  God,  yield  not  your  members  as  uiflruments  of  unrigh- 
teouffiefs  unto  ftn^  but  yield  yourfehes  unto  God,  as  thofe 
that  are  alive  from  the  dead,  and  your  members  as  ir/Jiru- 
ments  of  righteoufnefs  unto  God:  Rom.  vi.  i"^.  Let  your 
minds,  and  wills,  and  affections,  be  joined  to  that  power 
which  God  vifited  you  with  ;  in  love  to  God,  give  up 
vour  mxembers   as  fervants  unto  righteoufnefs. 

Here  is  fom.ething  for  man  to  do  in  the  day  of  God's 
vifitation  ',  thy  people  fhall  be  ivilling  in  the  day  of  thy  power  ; 
when  they  come  to  that,  and  experience  that,  this  fhews  that 
they  are  the  people  of  God  :  But  they  that  are  not  a  wilhng 
people,  are  none  of  God's  people,  God's  people  are  fo  ;  and 
I  pray  God  make  you  all  fo,  to  be  a  people  willing  to  be 
God's  people,  when  he  gives  you  power,  and  it  will  not  be 
long  before  he  gives  you  power  to  forfake  yoilr  fins,  to  for- 
fake  this,  and  the  other  fooUfii,  proud  and  vain  adion  and 
fafhion  ;  he  hath  made  Chrift  Jefus  to  be  Lord  and  King, 
and  he  fhall  reign  over  death ;  he  hath  made  all  things  by 
Chrift,  and  he  is  become  the  Saviour  of  all  men,  but  efpe- 
cially  of  them  that  believe  ;.  fo  that  I  would  have  a  fpecial 
falvation,  and  thou  wouldell  have  it  too  :  Chrifl  hath  made 
a  way,  and  opened  a  door  for  us  to  be  faved,  that  ive  iraght 
have  an  abundant  entrance  into  his  everlafling  kingdom  :  But 
I  would  have  a  fpecial  falvation,  that  would  invefl  me  with 
the  love  of  God  in  my  heart,  before  I  die;  it  is  to  be  had 
through  Chrid:,  therefore  to  him  will  I  come,  to  him  mull: 
every  one  com.e,  and  every  knee  bow  to  his  name,  and  every 
one  muft  wait  for  his  appearing  in  the  Spirit.  'V^hen  Chrifl 
appears,  truth  ftirs„  Now,  if  a  holy,  divine  life  is  in  thee, 
it  is  he  ;  if  a  principle  of  truth  ftir  in  thee,  it  is  he  :  The 
fame  Jefus,  only  in  a  fmaller  manifeflation  :  He  that  is 
faithful  in  a  little,  he  will  make  him.  ruler  over  miUch :  This 
is  he  that  God  hath  ordained  to  be  the  Captain  of  our  Sal- 
vation j 


68  His  Prayer  after  Sermon. 

vation  ;  this  is  that  which  we  preach  in  his  name,  and  tef- 
tify  and  declare  to  all  people,  that  there  is  no  other  falvation, 
no  deliverance  from  death  and  hell,  but  by  and  through  him  j 
in  htm  there  is  a  reconciliation^  and  that  peace  ivhich  fafjeth 
all  unde-ftanding^  and  power  over  all  thofe  things  which 
have  captivated  us,  and  made  us  diiobey  our  great  Lord  and 
Maker :  Let  us  wait  for  the  coming  of  Chrift ;  he  is  our 
Ki}^(r,  our  Lord  and  Laiv-giver,  and  he  ivjil  fave  ns  :  This 
was  the  cry  of  his  people  of  old,  for  the  glorious  and  great 
falvation  he  hath  given,  and  the  work  he  hath  wrought. 
Let  the  prayers  and  fupplications  of  all  people,  that  defire 
falvation,  be  put  up  m.ore  and  more,  that  he  will  vifit  the 
earth,  and  give  power  from  above,  and  luring  us  into  that 
nevo  and  living  vjay^  vchich  he  hath  co?ifecrated  for  ns,  through 
the  veily  that  is  to  fay^  his  flefli  ;  to  whom  be  glory,  ior 
ever  and  ever.     Amen, 

His  Prayer  after  SeriMon. 

7^  /I  0  S  T  hie  fed  and  glorious  Father,  and  Fountain 
J.  VA  of  Life,  and  of  all  li'ving  Blejfngs  I  ivliofe  glorious  day 
dawneth  ;  hy  thy  power  thou  hafl  brought  the  children  of  men 
out  of  darknefsy  that  they  might  ivaik  in  the  light  thereof : 
Great  joy,  and  flrong  cciifolation,  hafl  thou  brought  unto  thine 
Ifrael,  unto  the  people  that  thou  hafl  gathered  by  thy  arm  of 
povser  ;  then  hafl  made  tliem,  0  Lord,  to  take  great  delight 
in  thy  ways  ;  for  thou  hafl  caufeckthe  light  of  thy  countenance 
to  be  lifted  up  upon  us,  and  thy  holy  and  divine  prefencc 
hath  gone  along  v:ith  us,  from  time  to  time,  through  all  thofe 
flates  and  conditions,  and  through  all  thofe  trials  and  exer- 
cifes  that  we  have  met  with,  and  that  thou  haft  led  us  through. 

The  right  hand  of  thy  povoer,  O  Lard!  hath  been  with 
us,  and  therefore  ive  have  not  failed ;  and  thy  heavenly  blejjings 
have  been  rained  down  upon  us,  that  have  made  thy  heritage 
to  grow  and  beccm.e  fruitful,  to  the  honor  of  thy  great  name, 
and  the   eternal  confclation   of  our  fouJs. 

And,  therefore,  O  heavenly  Father  I  in  the  conflderation 
and  feeling  of  the  great  things  thou  hafl  ivrcught  for  us, 
and  for  the  continuance  of  thy  icve  to  us,  cur  fouls  are  always 

engaged 


His  Prayer  after  Sermon.  €c^ 

engaged  to  ojfer  high  praifes,  and  humble  thankfgivings  to 
thy  (Treat  name ;  and  the  fupplications  of  our  fculs,  whom 
thou  haft  quickened  and  brought  to  life,  are  daily  poured  forth 
upon  thine  altar,  that  as  thou  haft  hitherto  helped  us,  thy  holy 
and  divine  pre  fence  ayid  poiver  may  Jiill  accompany  us  to  the 
end  of  our  days ;  and  that  in  all  the  exercifes,  and  trials^ 
which  thou  art  pleafed  we  JJiould  meet  withdl,  we  may  find 
thy  prefence  with  us,  that  thy  eternal,  heavenly  power  may 
furroundus,  that  fo  we  may  be  more  than  conquerors,  tlirougk 
Chrifty  that  hath  loved  us. 

And  O  povjerful  God  of  Life  I  our  fouls  rejoice,  and  our 
hearts  are  made  glad  to  behold  the  progrefs  of  thy  power  in  cur 
day,  how  thou  haft  brought  down  the  mtghty  from  their  feats, 
and  haft  exalted  thofe  that  are  of  low  degree  ;  hovj  thou  haft 
laid  the  mountains  low,  and  exalted" the  inhabit a7its  of  the 
V  allies. 

0  blejfed  Father  of  Life  and  Power  I  praifcs,  praifes  wait 
for  thee  tn  7.ion ;  and  dear  Father  I  by  the  operation  of  thy 
wojtderful  power,  preferve  and  keep  thy  children,  whom  thou 
haft  gathered  into  a  Uvingfenfe  of  thy  prefence,  that  they  may 
bow  before  thee^  and  he  exercifed  in  a  daily,  holy,  divine  ivorftiip 
unto  thee ;  that  fo,  povoerful  God  of  Life  I  thou  mayeft  daily 
pour  down  thy  blejfings  upon  us,  and  deUght  to  jnanlfeft  thy- 
f elf  to  be  our  God;  and  let  us  live  as  becomes  a  people  that 
are  gathered  unto  thee, 

0  Lord  God  Eternal !  carry  en  thy  great  vuork  in  the  earth, 
and  make  known  thy  power  more  and  more ;  there  are  many 
breathing-ones,  and  many  that  cry  to  thee  daily.  Living 
Father  !  it  is  the  operation  of  thy  Spirit  that  hath  raifed  thej'e 
breathings,  and  kindled  thefe  defires  in  them,  and  it  is  thou 
alone  who  art  able  to  anfwer  them.  ;  therefore,  living  God  and 
Father,  they  are  committed  to  thee  ;  the  mourners,  the  bowed- 
dovjn,  and  thofe  that  are  laden  with  fin  and  iniquity,  and 
that  g-roan  under  the  prejfure  and  burden  of  It,  let  their  bur- 
dens be  taken  off,  and  the  yoke  of  Chrift,  that  eafy  yoke,  be 
put  on,  and  let  none  of  thy  commandments  be  grievous  to  them, 
that  they  m^ay  be  made  meet  to  enter  into  tky  kingdom  ;  let 
them  be  brought  through  the  labour  and  travel  of  regeneration, 
and  let  none  be  exalted  into  the  airy  vifion  andfgJit  of  things, 
hut  by  thy  living  povjer,  be  riftngto  eternal  life  in  their  fouls. 

And 


^0  The  DlFUSTE  MONITOR  ;   or, 

And  Lord,  iv€  fray  thee,  fit  and  prepare  all  thy  people  fo?' 
the  work  a^j^d  fervice  ivhich  thou  haft  been  pleafed  to  call  them 
to,  that  fo  thy  na'me  may  be  exalted  over  all,  and  thy  truth 
fpread  more  and  tno-re  ;  and  let  all  error  and  darknefs  be  eX" 
pelted^  a?id  let  the  power  and  influence  of  thy  name  be  great  in 
the  earth,  that  all  thy  fcattered  people  may  be  brought  home, 
to  refide  in  thy  koufe,  that  there  may  be  unity  and  concord 
amongft  them,  and  they  may  all  with  one  heart  and  mind, 
return,  and  afcri-be  praifes  and  honour,  and  glory  to  thy 
holy  name,  for  all  thy  blejjings,  mercies  and  living  refrejh- 
ments,  that  ive  have  received  at  thy  hands,  for  thou  alone  art 
worthy y  and  God  over  all,   bleffed  forever  ^nd  ever.      Amen. 

S  E  Pv  M  O  N    VI., 

The  Divine   Monitor  ;   or,   Light  from 

Heaven. 

Preached  at  GRACE-CHURCH-STREETy  June  ig,    i6p2. 

T  is  a  great  privilege  to  the  fons  and  daughters  of 
men,  .that  it  has  pleafed  God  Almighty  to  open  a  way, 
how  they  ma^/  come  to  the  true  knowledge  of  him- 
felf.  And  O  that  there  v/as  a  heart  in  every  one  of  us, 
that  could  rightly  prize  this  privilege  as  we  ought  to  do ! 
for  in  the  knowledge  of  the  true  God  confifts  our  true 
happincfs ;  and  without  this,  the  mind  of  no  man  or  wo- 
man can  be  good.  There  is  nothing  feafons  the  mind  and 
foul  of  man,  and  prepares  and  fits  it  for  an  everlafting 
well-being,  but  the  divine  knowledge  of  the  living  God 
that  m.ade  him.  And  there  is  a  propenfity  in  the  foul  of 
man,  even  fince  the  fall,  to  return  again  to  God,  and  to 
have  that  acquaintance  and  communion  with  the  Lord  that 
man  had  before  he  fell  :  And  they  that  have  regard  to 
that  inward  fpark  of  divine  love,  that  they  find  in  their 
own  fouls  towards  God,  they  will  experience  that  the  Lord 
is  merciful  and  gracious,  and  propitious  to  that  which  is 
of  himfelf 

For 


Light  from  Heaven,  )ri 

.  For  tho'  the  foul  is  loft,  and  man  is  loft  through  tranf- 
greffion,  7iX\^  a  great  alienation  has  happen^sd  between  him 
and  his  Maker,  yet  the  mercy  of  the  Lord  endureth  for- 
ever ;  and  his  kindnefs  and  favour  to  loft  man  is  fuch, 
that  he  ftretcheth  out  his  hand  all  the  day  long,  and  pre- 
fents  and  offers  to  th^  children  of  men  a  friendship  and 
acquaintance,  and  a  communion  again  with  him.  And 
tho'  by  lin  and  tranfgrsfTion,  there  is  a  rebellious  nature 
grown  up  in  the  fons  and  daughters  of  men,  yet  the  foul 
of  man  is  not  wholly  fo  j  there  is  fomething  that  ftrives 
and  labours  in  a  contrary  way,  and  periuades  the  foul  to 
turn  again  unto  the  Lord,  and  to  wait  for  the  knowledge 
of  God  ;  and  whofoever  hearkens  with  care  and  dihgence, 
to  that  divine  Monitor,  that  is  daily  drawing  and  per- 
fuading  people  to  feek  aitei*  God,  they  come  to  undcr- 
ftand,  that  the  Lord  is  not  fo  angry  with  mankind,  but 
his  love,  and  mercy,  and  good  will,  reaches  towards  all 
the  fons  and  daughters  of  men  ;  and  the  bar  that  hinders 
their  communion  with  God,  and  peace  with  God,  it  is 
not  in  the  Lord,  but  it  is  in  themfelves  ;  and  therefore 
the  remedy  muft  be  wrought  in  themfelves. 

This  is  evident  to  every  eye,  that  there  is  fomething 
gotten  into  mankind,  which  the  Holy  God  cannot  own, 
and  can  never  have  fellowfiiip  with  ;  that  is,  another  con- 
trary fpirit  hath  wrought  upon  the  fouls  of  people,  and 
hath  feduced  and  drawn  them  out  to  that  which  is  unholy 
and  contrary  to  God-,  and  the  terms  of  God's  covenant 
to  mankind,  Vv'hich  is,  that  he  fliould  forfake  that  which 
the  contrary  fpirit  hath  wrought.  Let  the  wicked  forfake 
his  ivays,  and  the  unrighteous  tnan  his  thoughts.  Why  (hould 
he  forfake  his  ways  ?  Becaufe  the  Lord  never  led  him  in- 
to thofe  ways.  He  that  made  him,  never  led  him  into 
them  ;but  the  devil,  the  ^nemy  of  mankind,  feduced  him 
into  thofe  ways  ;  therefore  the  Creator  cries  out  to  him., 
let  the  ivickcd  forfake  his  ways,  and  the  unrighteous  man  his 
thoughts  ;  I  cannot  have  union  with  hrim,  as  long  as  he 
WMiks  m  his  evil  ways  ;  I  cannot  dwell  in  his  mind,  fo 
long  as  evil  thoughts  are  in  it  :  So  mav  the  Lord  com- 
plain of  the  works  which  the  devil  hath  wrought,  that 
man  is  carried  away  from  God,  by  his  evil  thoughts,  and 
the  works  of  the  devil.  XY'hv 


>yz  The  DiviNE  Monitor  ;  or, 

Why  doth  not  God  dedroy  thofe  works,  when  he  is 
Almighty,  and  able  to  do  it  ?  Very  true,  God  is  fo  ; 
but  he  hath  offered  to  mankind,  through  the  Ton  of  his 
love,  a  way  and  means,  how  man  may  come  to  be  purged, 
and  cleanfed  from  the  evil  that  the  devil  hath  wrought  in 
him,  and  how  he  may  come  to  be  reconciled  to  God  : 
God  hath  not  chofen  the  way  of  coercion  and  force,  and 
to  work  altogether  by  irrefiflible  power,  that  man  ihall  go 
to  Heaven  whether  he  will  or  no  :  There  was  no  force 
ufed  for  his  going  to  hell  and  darknefs,  but  it  was  the 
choice  of  his  will :  The  devil  could  not  have  forced  him, 
and  hd  him  av/ay  out  of  covenant  with  God,  he  could 
not  compel  him  to  break  the  holy  comm^and  of  God  ,  but 
the  devil  tempted  him,  and  he  yielded  to  the  temptation,, 
and  now  man  is  driven  out  of  the  prefence  of  God;  yet 
God  hath  found  out  a  way  for  the  fons  and  daughters  of 
men,  to  turn  again  to  him:  What  by  force  and  coercion, 
and  irrefiftable  power?  No,  but  the  fcripture  faith.  He 
hath  offered  life  and  falvation  to  all  m.en  :  He  hath  freely 
given  the  Son  of  his  love,  out  of  his  own  bofom,  who  making 
himfef  an  offering  for  Jin,  hath  prefented  a  way  and  means 
for  mans  returning  again  to  God. 

How  doth  God  prefent  Chrift  to  us  ?  He  prefents  him 
to  the  view  of  every  one's  mind,  to  the  underftanding  of 
every  foul  ',  he  offers  and  prefents  him  for  falvation  to  the 
ends  of  the  earth.  There  is  a  damination  come  in  by  mean's 
being  fubjecl  to  Satan,  but  falvation  combes  in  by  his  being 
fubjed  to  Chrift  ;  as  damnation  came  in  by  his  being  defiled, 
fo  falvation  came  in  by  his  being  cleanfed  :  As  the  devil  is 
the  defiler,  fo  Chrifl  is  the  cleanfer,  and  man  is  the  objed 
upon  which.both  do  v/ork  ;  and  they  that  have  been  defiled 
and  corrupted  (as  we  all  have)  by  the  unclean  Spirit,  can 
any  of  us  give  a  reafon  they  fhould  not  be  cleanfed  by  the 
holy  Spirit  ?  We  have  lofl  our  right  to  Heaven  by  fin  and 
tranrgrefTion,  in  the  iirfl:  Adam  ;  and  can  any  give  a  realon, 
why  v/e  iliould  not  be  reftored,  and  redeemed,  by  Jefus 
Chrid:,  tlie  Second  Adam  ?  No  reafon  can  be  given  of  our 
redemption,  but  that  God  is  free  in  his  love,  and  Chrifl  in 
his  ofrcring :  He  hath  ojfered  himfef  a  facrifice  for  fin  : 
Every  priel}  hath    fm^ethinq;  to  ofer;    this   man,  the   man 

Lnrijt 


Light  fmn  Heaven.  yj 

',CknJt  Jefus,  offered  himfelf,  throt'.gh  the  eternal  Spirit,  a 
facrifice  for  fin.  ;  and  7iovj  the  facrtjice  is  cffered,  and  a 
door  is  opened,  and  a  nevo  and  living  vjay  consecrated  through 
the  veil,  that  is   to  fay,  his  fiefn. 

Now,  who  can  be  wife  enough  to  find  out  a  rcafon,  why 
all  men  enter  not  in  at  this  door  ?  For  all  men  enter  in  at  the 
other  door,  which  the  devil  and  Adam  opened,  to  run  from 
God  jail  could  run  in  at  that  door.  X'/'hiat  is  thereafon, 
that  all  go  not  in  at  that  door  which  Chrift  harh  opened, 
and  God  Jiath  revealed,  and  which  coft  ChriO:  fo  dear  to 
work  our  way  back  again,  for  mankind  to  return  to  God  ? 
If  we  go  about  to  enquire  into  the  reafon,  we  Ihail  find  it 
very  little,  for  there  is  all  the  reafon  in  the  world  wq  Inould 
ferve  God,  and  feek  our  own  happinefs;  there  is  all  the 
reafon  in  the  world  we  iliould  part  with  fin  and  iniquity, 
and  with  the  devifs  work,  \7hich  he  wrought,  if  we  knew 
but  how  :  Now  this,  I  fay,  is  a  great  privilege,  that  God 
hath  aiforded  to  the  fons  and  daughters  of  men,  that  they 
may  know  ;  for  here  the  term^s  of  the  goipel  and  of  falva- 
tion,  are  brought  into  a  narrov/  compafs,  to  a  fhort  fum, 
there  need  no  catalogue  of  them  ;  they  that  will  be  ruled 
by  the  wicked  one,  muft  have  their  part  with  him ;  anu 
they  that  will  be  ruled  and  governed  by  the  Holy  One,  ihail 
have  their  part  with  him,  that  where  he  is,  there  they  may 
be  alfo. 

Is  this  in  the  power  of  man's  will  ?  No,  there  lies  the 
mifchief  in  the  will  of  man  ',  for  you  cannot  but  knov/  by 
experience,  if  a  man  may  have  his  own  will,  he  will  always 
run  headlong  to  deftrudion,  and  run  in  the  way  of  wicked- 
nefs :  And  if  ever  he  comes  to  turn  out  of  that  way,  into 
tbe  way  of  righteoufnefs,  he  muft  do  it  in  a  way  that  is  a  crofs 
to  his  own  will.  Some  have  laid,  becaufe  we  have  fpoken 
of  the  free  grace  of  God,  in  a  way  that  is  univerfal,  of  his 
kindnefs  to  mankind,  through  Jefus  Chrift,  they  have  laid, 
that  we  hold  free-will,  that  men  might  be  faved  if  they 
would  ;  but  alas,  we  have  tried  it,  and  we  have  an  univerial 
knowledge,  that  is  able  to  convince  us,  and  all  the  world, 
that  it  is  far  enough  from  our  own  will.  Man  is  f:ir  enough 
from  being  able  to  fave  himfelf,  from  being  faved  by  his  own 
will :  He   can  run  on  to  damnation,  there  is  a  current  goes 

K  with 


^4  Tf^^  Divine  AIonitor;  of, 

with  his  affections,  and  v/ith  his  corrupt  defires,  they  go  with 
the  current  and  ftream  j  as  long  as  a  man  goes  on  in  (in,  he 
fwims  down  the  ftream. 

Now  many,  after  they  have  long  gone  on  in  fm,  and  their 
evil  ways,  they  think  of  returning  to  God  ;  for  they  think 
there  is  a  better  way,  a  ilirer  and  fafer  way  for  their  fouls, 
than  to  go  on  in  wickednefs :  So  there  is  ^  if  there  be  fo, 
faith  the  fmcere  foul,  O  that  I  might  walk  in  it :  ^Fhy  doft 
thou  not?  I  am  convinced  that  I  iee  a  more  excellent  way 
than  my  way  is,  a  better  "^x'alking  and  converfation  than  my 
life  is ;  but  alas!  it  is  too  hard  for  me  to  walk  in  it :  Why  ? 
what  is  the  matter,  what  m.akes  it  hard  ?  becaufc  of  my  own 
will ; .  I  cannot  walk  in  it  and  have  my  will,  I  cannot  walk 
in  it,  and  enjoy  my  afFedions  and  defires,  and  my  intereftin 
the  world :  This  is  no  wonder  that  thou  telleft  me ;  now 
tkou  art  convinced  of  a  better  way,  and  wouldeft  walk  in 
it,  and  thou  canft  not  walk  in  it,  but  thou  muft  take  up  a 
daily  crofs  ;  v/e  might  all  of  us  tell  that,  and  read  it  before  ; 
I  pray  God  you  may  come  to  read  it  within,  what  a  crofs 
it  IS  you  are  to  take  up,  and  what  way  it  is  you  are  re- 
quu-ed  to  walk  in ;  that  is  the  way  of  God,  the  way  that 
leads  to  Heaven,  it  is  a  narrow  way ;  but  the  way  that  the  devil 
would  have  you  to  Wvalk  in,  is  a  broad  way,  there  is  no 
rub  in  it. 

O  would  you  but  once  come  to  experience  how  hard  it 
is  to  walk  in  that  ivay  that  leads  to  life,  you  would  find 
that  vou  cannot  do  it  without  felf-denial :  It  comes  to  this 
point  ;  I  have  read  of  it  before,  but  now  I  find  it  fo.  Such 
a  man,  or  fuch  a  woman,  will  ferioufiy  apply  thcmd elves 
to  live  blam.eiefs,  harmlefs,  and  inoffenfive  towards  God 
and  men  ;  they  will  fet  a  bridle,  and  a  watch  before  their 
mouths,  that  they  may  not  fpeak  a  vain  word ;  they  will 
take  care  of  the  frame  and  temper  of  their  minds,  that 
they  fin  not  in  their  thoughts,  that  they  (in  not  with  their 
lips,  nor  with  their  hands.  This  is  not  as  I  was  wont  to 
do  ;  I  was  ufed  to  have  my  liberty  ;  now  I  find  myfelf 
yoked,  I  dare  not  ,fin  againft  God  :  Now  I  find,  by  ex- 
perience, what  I  heard  before,  that  no  man  can  follow 
Chrift,  without  denying  himfelf,  and  taking  up  a  daily 
crofs. 

I 


w 


Light  from  Heaven.  y^ 

,/  I  would  have  you  experienced  in  this  work;  wicked  men 
think  it  a  pleafant  life,  to  follow  the  devil's  work,  and  to 
walk  in  the  broad  v:ay  j  but  the  way  of  feif-denial  is  uneafy, 
there  is  much  ftrife  and  oppolition  in  that  way  ;  If  I  have 
a  mind  to  fpeak  a  vain  word,  I  am  limited  ;  if  I  have 
a  defire  to  wrong  my  neighbour,  and  cheat  and  defraud 
him,  I  am  limited,  I  am  not  to  do  it,  that  belongs  to  the 
broad  way  :  If  a  man  will  feek  after  the  Lord,  and  walk. 
in  the  way  of  hoUnefs  and  righteoufnefs,  the  end  whereof 
is  peace,  he  will  find  k  is  a  narrow  way,  wherein  he  can- 
not enjoy  his  own  will  ',  fuch  a  one  muft  be  a  David, 
who  faid,  I  behaved  niyfdf  as  a  weaned  child  ;  that  is, 
as  one  that  is  afraid  to  be  beaten. 

But  thou  wilt  be  ready  to  fay,  I  am  a  man,  and  not 
a  child  y  1  am  come  now  to  be  a  man,  a  man  of  parts  ; 
I  have  feen  much,  and  read  much,  and  would  you  have 
me  become  a  child  ?  How  gre^t  a  man  was  David:  If 
you  fpeak  of  a  man,  he  was  a  man  of  dignity  and  ho- 
nour, a  man  of  valour  and  experience  ;  yet  when  he  fpeaks 
with  refped:  to  the  frame  of  his  mind  before  the  Lord, 
he  faith,  he  behaved  himfelf  as  a  vceaiied  childy  as  one  that 
feared  to  be  beaten,  feared  to  commit  an  offence  ;  he 
feared  the  rod  of  his  God  upon  him  ;  he  feared  fomething 
of  judgment  upon  his  confcience.  David  was  an  old  tef- 
tament  man,  but  he  had  regard  to  that  which  never  wax- 
eth  old,  which  is  the  fame  in  all  times,  new  and  old. 
Alpha  and  Omega.  Chrift  Jefus  was  his  leader,  before  he 
was  born  of  the  Virgin  Mary  ;  his  word  was  a  light  to 
his  feet,  and  a  lanthorn  to  his  paths  :  David  had  acquain- 
tance with  God,  who  did  lift  up  the  light  of  his  coun« 
tenance  upon  him.. 

And  when  Chrift  himfelf  cam^e  to  preach  upon  earth, 
he  faith  himfelf,  every  one  that  comes  into  the  kingdo?n  of 
God,  mufl  become  as  a  little  child.  He  muft  become  as  a 
little  child  in  fimpUcity  and  fubjedion  ;  he  muft  be  un- 
der government  ;  he  muft  become  as  a  little  child,  or  he 
muft  in  no  wife  enter  the  kingdom  of  Heaven ;  they  muft 
not  think  to  enter  into  Chrift's  kingdom  becaufe  they  are 
men  ;  men  of  parts,  men  of  courage,  m.en  of  underftand- 
ing,  learned  dodors,   mafters  of  liberal  arcs  and   fciences : 

Thefe 


yG  The  DiviNE  AioNiTOR  ;  or, 

There  may  help  to  make  them  men,  but  they  m.ufl  b 
children  ;  all  their  wits,  and  parts^  and  manhood,  courage 
and  valour,  will  do  them  no  good  ;  for  little  children,  babes 
and  fucklings,  m.ay  underfland  more  than  they  of  Divine 
Myfceries,  and  have  greater  communion  and  intercourse  be- 
tween God  and  their  fouls  than  they  ;  Co  that  all  who 
enter  into  Chrift's  kingdom,  muft  become  like  little  chil- 
dren. 

So  that  here  is  a  way  provided  by  Jefus  Chrift,  for 
man  to  come  again  into  the  favour  of  God,  which  is  by 
Chrift  alone,  not  by  any  thing  that  a  man  can  do  ;  Chrift 
muft  be  their  leader  and  their  counfellor,  he  alone  can 
give  them  the  true  knowledge  of  God.  No  man  ca?i  k?toiv 
th^  Father  but  the  Scn^  a?id  he  to  ivhoin  the  Son  reveals 
him.  Men  can  never  attain  to  the  favinff  knowled.^e  of 
God  by  ftudy,  and  by  difputation  and  reading  books,  and 
commentators,  and  obfervators  of  matters  of  religion.  Time 
'svould  fail  m.e  to  fpeak  of  the  m.ultitude  of  books  that 
have  been  written  about  the  knowledge  of  God.  You  m.uft 
come  to  Chrift  for  divine  knowledge ;  theology,  the  know- 
ledge of  God,  and  divine  and  heavenly  things,  are  from 
Chrift  :  He  ihall  have  this  divine  knowledge,  be  he  ever 
fo  fimple,  that  comes  unto  Chrift  for  it ;  he  cannot  have 
it  anv  other  wav,  for  God  hath  ordained  this  way  :  Saith 
God,'  he  (hall  have  it  of  my  Son,  who  is  the  Reconciler, 
the  ?v4ediator  between  God  and  m.an,  he  ftiall  be  beholden 
to  Chrift  for  all.  All  men's  own  works  and  labours  will 
not  juftifv  and  fave  them,  for  God  hath  committed  the 
whole  work  of  falvation  to  Chrift.  One  would  think  it 
fnould  be  no  great  matter  for  men  to  lay  afide  their  own 
works  and  duties,  and  fubmdt  to  Chrift  ;  but  I  tell  you 
it  is  very  hard,  and  I  foiind  it  hard  myfelf. 

Men  think  by  reading  and  learning,  and  hearing  this  and 
the  other  man's  notions  and  opinions,  they  may  be  edified 
and  profited,  and  com.e  to  the  true  knowledge  of  God  5 
but  while  they  are  waiting  upon  God,  in  the  way  he  hath 
appointed,  they  m^ay  receive  knowledge  from  Chrift,  and 
be  more  certain  and  infallible  in  x^hat  they  do  know,  than 
bv  confuking  all  the  wife  men  and  learned  dodors  in  the 
world.     For  no   man  knows   all    at   once ;    and  no  man 

kno-v;'5 


i 


>  Light  fro?n  Heaven*  yy 

Icnows  all  things  neither  :  It  is  not  a  thing  necciTary  that 
man  fhould  know  all  things  in  relation  to  God|  for  as 
he  is  in  himfelf,  he  is  incomprehenlible :  ¥or  no  ynan  knows 
the  Father  but  the  Son^  and  he  to  ivhom  the  Son  fnall  re- 
veal htm  ;  vet  that  which  he  knows  of  God,  he  mav 
know  it  is   certain  and  infallible. 

Suppofe  a  man  know  nothing  of  God,  but  that  he  is 
the  fearcher  of  the  hearty  and  trier  of  the  reins.  There  are 
many  that  have  tried  this,  and  fay  they  know  it,  thatyet 
doubt^^,^'hether  there  be  a  God  or  no.  But  when  God 
conies  within  them,  and  convinces  them  of  fm,  and  fear  di- 
es them,  and  brings  judgment  upon  them  for  what  they 
have  -done,  then  they  know  infallibly,  that  God  is  the 
fearcher  ^rf  hearts.  This  is  not  a  man's -tjc'ork,  this  is  thd 
work  (siySod  ;  if  I  find  God  doth  approach  mv  ipirit,  I 
know  it  is .;  God's  work  ;  I  have  now  pfot  feme  knowledge 
of  God,  how  came  I  by  it  ?  Who  gave  it  m.e  ?  No  one 
but  he  that  hath  all  knowledge  ;  he  that  was  with  the  Fa- 
ther from  the  beginning,  and  was  glorified  with  the  Fa- 
ther before  the  v/orld  began,  he  gave  me  this  know- 
ledge j  and  how  did  he  give  it  thee  ?  By  his  Spirit  j  for 
he  hath  fent  forth  the  Spirit  of  his  Son  into  my  heart ;  and. 
that  Spirit  of  Chrift  fearches  the  hearts,  and  tries  the  reiis. 
He  tells  me  this  is  evil  that  thou  haft  done,  this  is  that 
which  God  that  made^  thee  hath  againft  thee  ;  this  thou  muft 
forfake,  and  this  thou  muft  repent  of  j  here  I  have  an  in- 
fallibility of  what  I  know,  but  I  cannot  get  rid  of  m_y 
evil. 

Now,  if  I  can  believe  in  the  power  by  which  my  heart  is 
fearched,  and  truft  in  him  that  hath  begun  to  deal  with  me, 
then  his  work  is  not  only  to  reveal  his  light  to  convince  me, 
but  to  put  forth  his  power  to  convert  me  ;  fo  that  by  the 
power  of  that  truth  by  which  my  heart  is  fearched,  1  come 
to  be  converted,  and  turned  from  mv  fin,  and  break  off 
from  it  ;  and  v/hen  I  am  broken  off  from  it,  I  am  fure, 
and  have  a  certainty  that  it  is  fo,  that  I  am  broken  off  from 
fuch  a  fin,  and  that  my  heart  is  turned  againft  it ;  I  am  fure 
that  now  I  hate  it,  and  deteft  it,  and  that  God  hath  turned 
my  inch  nations  another  way  :  I  am  fure  this  is  God's  work, 
I  can  witnefs  this  infallibly,  that  iomething  is  now  done  in 

order 


^8  The  Divine  Monitor  ;  or, 

order  to  my  redemption  :  But  there  is  fomething  yet  re- 
maining to  be  done  :  What  then?  I  will  go  Hep  by  flepj 
by  following  my  guide,  I  fliall  be  fure  to  be  making  fome 
progrefs  every  day,  to  that  ftate  to  which  the  Spirit  of 
Chrift  will  lead  me :  Thefe  perfons  come  to  a  certainty  of 
knowledge  by  their  own  experience. 

Some  will  fay,  take  heed  of  being  deluded  and  deceived 
by  the  QiirJiers  ;  fo  fay  I  too  :  Take  heed  of  being  deluded 
by  any  body;  if  any  go  about  to  perfuade  thee,  to  believe 
that  which  thou  knoweft  to  be  a  lycy  I  am  fure  they  are 
about  to  delude  thee  y  I  would  have  every  one  to  have  an 
evidence  in  them 'elves  of  what  they  believe. 

Doth  a  man  believe  that  fuch  a  one  is  a  drunkard,  be- 
caufe  the  kriptures  declare  judgment  againft  the  drunkards  ? 
the  icripture  laith,  iug  to  the  dnmkards  of  Ephraim  :  There 
are  judgments  denounced  againil  the  drunkards  in  the  old 
teftament  ;  confider  the  fcripture  doth  not  tell  fuch  and 
fuch  by  name,  that  they  are  drunkards;  but  the  Spirit  of 
God,  by  a  work  and  operation  upon  a  man's  conicience, 
fingles  him  out,  and  charges  him  with  the  guilt  of  drunken- 
nefs.    . 

There  is  a  great  condemnation  pronounced  againft  whore- 
mongers in  fcripture,  but  it  doth  not  tell  us  who  they  are 
by  nam.e;  but  their  confciences  tell  them  fo,  and  gives  in- 
fallible judgment  againft  them,  and  fay,  t/iou  art  the  man^ 
thou  art  a  perfon  that  God  doth  judge  and  condemn ; 
vchcremongcrs  and  adulterers^  God  ivill  Judge  ;  but  that  doth 
not  concern  thee,  and  affed  thee,  except  thou  be  one  ;  I 
may  read  this  an  hundi'ed  times  in  the  fcripture,  and  not 
have  a  reftection  in  my  own  confcience,  except  I  be  guilty  : 
But  when  God  meets  with  a  gmlty  perfon,  and  judgeth  and 
condemneth  him,  there  will  be  an  infallibility  in  what 
fuch  a  one  knows.  If  a  whoremonger  is  rejected  upon  by 
Jiis  o\^li  confcience,  if  his  confcience  tell  him  he  is  the  man, 
if  ail  tie  world  fiiould  flatter  him,  and  fay  he  is  not  guilty,  he 
would  certainly  know  that  they  tell  him  a  lye. 

So  tliat  here  is  no  dependence  upon  any  man's  judgm.ent, 
but  upon  an  invifible  judge  in  a  mean's  own  heart:  \^ho 
fnall  delude  and  deceive  this  m^an,  that  hath  this  experimental 
knowledge?    thofe  perfons  v/iil  not   deceive  a   man,    that 

would 


Light  from  Heaved,  79 

\v/0Lild  turn  him  from  the  evil  of  his  ways ;  thefe  do  not  go 
about  to  deceive  him,  that  will  tell  him  he  muft  hearken 
to  that  principle  of  truth  and  hoUnefs  in  his  o\;n  heart  j 
they  would  deceive  him  that  tell  him  he  is  converted  when  he. 
is  not,  and  leave  him  there  :  But  when  he  is  really  convert- 
ed and  turned  from  fin  to  God,  fome  will  tell  him  he  is 
deluded  and  deceived  ;  I  pray  God  every  one  of  us  may  be 
fo  deceived  :  Saith  the  apofile,  ive  are  deceivers^  yet  true  : 
All  that  are  truly  converted,  though  men  cry  out  they  are 
deceivers,  though  they  are  deceivers,  yet  true  ;  they  are  come 
to  the  favour  of  the  knowledge  of  God,  through  Chrift;  and 
fo  Ihall  certainly  co-me  to  be  partakers  of  the  inheritance 
that  is  tmdejiledy  and  that  fadeth  not  avoay. 

Friends,  you  know  that  this  hath  been  the  propofition 
of  all  the  prophets,  and  apoftles,  from  the  beginning  to  this 
day ;  the  thing  that  they  have  propofed  to  the  fons  and 
daughters  of  men,  hath  been  to  enquire  after  the  know- 
ledge of  the  true  God  :  It  hath  been  wonderful  to  con- 
fider,  what  the  devil  hath  done  to  prefent  divers  doctrines 
that  he  hath  found  out,  and  ftirred  up  others  to  invent  a 
company  of  Gods,  that  other  people  have  adored  and  wor- 
ihipped.  It  is  hard  to  find  any  nation  that  do  not  worlhip 
fome  God  ;  it  is  natural  for  m.an  to  defire  to  come  to  fome 
God,  he  thinks  he  muft  come  to  fome  God,  and  cannot  be 
happy  if  he  come  not  to  God  :  But  the  devil  hath  invented 
many  Gods,  and  fet  the  people  a  woriliipping  of  idols,  the 
work  of  men's  hands,  fuch  Gods  that  are  fo  far  from  help- 
ing their  worfhippers,  that  they  cannot  help  themfelves,  t 
they  cannot  wipe  off  the  duft  from  their  own  faces  j  and 
if  they  fall  down,   they  cannot  rife  again. 

But  this  is  not  our  cafe,  we  have  but  one  God  preached 
am.ong  us,  and  but  one  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  the  Mediator  be- 
tween God  and  man  :  Our  condition  is  happy,  in  having 
but  one  God,  in  comparifon  of  theirs  that  have  many  Gods. 

If  the  true  God,  that  you  worihip,  were  but  trufted  in, 
you  would  be  the  happieft  people  in  the  world  :  If  you  do 
but  fearch,  you  will  find  that  the  devil  hath  in  this  n-ition, 
and  in  this  age,  ftirred  up  people  to  woriliip  as  many  Gods, 
as  he  did  in  other  nations  in  ancient  times,  among  the  Sido- 
tiiansy  and  Amontes,  and  others. 

But 


^o  The  Divine  Monitor  ;  or. 

But  you  will  fay,  we  v/orlliip  one  God,  and  trufr  only 
in  one  God,  and  one  Ghrifl,  and  one  Holy  Ghoft,  the  only 
living  an  J  true  God. 

Do  not  tell  me  what  God  a  man  profefTeth  to  worfhip, 
but  what  God  he  truftech  in,  that  gives  it  the  name  :  What- 
foever  a  man  trufteth  in,  that  he  makes  his  God,  whether  it 
be  gold  or  filver,  or  the  honours  and  pleafures  of  this  world, 
if  he  trufteth  in  the'e  things,  he  makes  them  his  God.  Let 
a  man  but  fearch  and  try  himfelf,  and  he  will  find  Tome- 
thing  hath  got  a  place  in  his  heart,  that  he  cannot  part  with 
for  Chrift's  fake.  Ke  v/ill  be  ready  to  fay,  I  cannot  part 
with  my  houfe  and  land,  with  my  wife  and  children,  and 
my  goods  and  poffelTions,  becaule  I  have  a  confidence  in 
them,  and  believe  they  will  do  me  good,  and  be  a  defence 
for  me  ;  I  truftthat  in  times  of  peril  thofe  things  may  do  me 
good.  Here  is  a  divine  adoration,  here  is  that  truft,  that 
confidence,  that  all  true  Chriftians  ought  to  have  in  the  true 
God,  and  this  is  placed  in  thefe  earthly  things.  Now, 
wherefoever  the  truft  and  confidence  is  placed  in  tranfitory 
and  earthly  perifhing  things,  thefe  men  truft  in  tranfitory 
Gods. 

Nothing  fo  (hews  that  a  man  makes  the  Lord  his  God, 
as  when  he  cafts  all  care  on  him,  and  puts  his  whole  truft 
in  him_,  when  he  makes  a  profeluon  and  acknowledgment  of 
his  dominion  and  grcatnefs,  and  of  all  his  other  perfections, 
that  by  his  wifidom  he  can  procure  for  them  ail  that  is  good, 
and  by  his  power,  keep  off  from  them,  and  fecure  them 
from  evil.  When  I  make  the  Lord  my  truft  and  refuge, 
and  truft  him  for  my  God,  I  choofe  him  before  all  the  Gods 
of  the  Heathen,  and  truft  in  him  above  all  things  under 
Heaven,  upon  the  account  of  the  profundity  of  his  wifdom, 
and  the  almightinefs  of  his  power  :  When  a  man  hath  this 
feme  upon  him,  he  will  walk  before  the  Lord  with  refignation 
of  mind,  and  be  willing  to  be  at  God's  difpofal,  and  he  will 
not  only  give  up  himielf  to  God,  but  he  will  hearken  to 
him,  and  hear  his  voice  when  he  fpeaks  to  him.. 

Gody  vjho  at  fundry  tlmcs^  and  in  d'rcsrs  manners  fpakc 
in  time  pajt^  unto  the  fathers  hy  the  prophets,  hath  in  thefe 
laft  days  fpoken  to  i^s  by  his  Son  :  But,  where  is  his  Son^ 
you  will  fay  ?  He  is  in  Heaven  ;  but  though  he  is  the  high 

and 


Light  from  Heaven:  8t 

^ndlofty  one  that  inhabits  eternity^  yet  he  chvells  ivith  meek, 
humble  and  contrite  hearts,  that  tremble  at  his  ivord*  If  I 
be  one  of  the  number  of  tho^^e  that  tremble  at  God's  word, 
I  have  that  promifc  that  he  v/ill  come  home  to  me,  and  dwell 
with  me.  It  is  well  for  thee,  if  the  over-ruling  power  of 
God  hath  prevailed  upon  thee,  that  thou  canft  be  willing  to 
be  at  God's  difpofal,  and  fay,  Lord,  what  wouldefl:  thou 
have  me  to  do  ? 

Therefore,  friends,  I  would  advife  you  ail  to  love  your 
own  fouls,  that  when  God  defires  your  hearts,  you  would 
give  them  up  to  him,  that  there  he  might  delight  to  dwell, 
and  have  his  habitation.  Hearken  to  God's  voice,  and 
have  regard  to  his  word,  which  is  a  more  fure  word  than 
any  man's  in  the  world.  There  is  a  more  fure  word  of 
prophecy,  faith  the  apoftle,  iinto  which  you  will  do  well  to 
take  heed.  This  will  check  you,  and  reprove  you,  when 
you  do  evil,  and  fkew  }'ou  wherein  you  have  traufgrefTed  ; 
and  will  encourage  you,  and  be  a  comfort  to  you,  when 
you  do  that  which  is  good.  This  will  make  you  wife  to 
falvatio?:,  and  thoroughly  furnifti  you,  and  give  you  under- 
ftanding  for  every  good  work.  This  word  will  tell  you, 
this  you  muft  not  do,  left  you  offend  God,  and  wound 
your_confcience,  and  grieve  the  Holy  Spirit ;  this  word 
will  help  you  fo  to  fpeak,  as  to  adminifter  grace  to  the 
hearers ;  fuch  a  one  as  hath  regard  to  this  word,  hath  a 
chaplain  in  his  own  bofom,  that  will  dired  and  teach  him 
how  to  fteer  his  courle,  and  order  his  converfation  among 
men,  and  how  to  ferve  God  acceptably.  This  High  PrieJFs 
lips  will  preferve  knoivkdge,  even  Jefus  Chrift  the  righte- 
ous, who  fpeaks  to  us  in  his  word  ;  we  can  do  nothing 
but  by  his  direction  :  If  you  come  to  him  to  lead  you 
into  all  truth,  he  will  bring  you  to  the  Father,  and  recon- 
cile you  to  him,  that  fo  you  may  obtain  his  favour  and 
everlafting  life.  When  one  o£  Chrift's  difciples  faid,  fliew 
us  the  Father,  and  it  fufficeth  us,  Jefus  faith  unto  him^  he 
that  hath  feen  me,  hath  feen  the  Father,  and  hoiv  fayefi 
thou  then,  Jfheiv  us  the  Father  F  If  you  fubjed  yourfelves  to 
Chrift,  and  to  the  government  of  his  Spirit,  he  will  bring 
you  to  that  life  and  immortality,  that  fadeth  net  away. 

This  hath  been  our  labour  and  travel  from  time  to  time, 

L  to 


§2  His  Prayer  after  Sermon. 

to  preach  Chrift  among  you,  and  not  to  preach  ourreWes^ 
and  gather  a  church  for  ourfelves,  but  to  gather  a  people 
unto  Chrift,  who  is  Lord  of  Heaven  and  Earth.  \^e  would 
pi-each  Chrid  Jefus  the  Lord  ;  we  would  not  have  you 
admh'e  men's  words  and  fayings,  and  charge  your  memory 
with  them  ;  but  we  would  have  you  remember  the  words 
and  fayings  of  Chrift,  who  is  the  great  Mediator,  to  re- 
concile man  again  to  God,  that  you  may  know  him  by 
his  power,  working  effedually  in  your  hearts  ;  we  labour 
for  nothing  elfe,  and  we  want  nothing  elfe.  .  W^e  are  am- 
bajfadors  for  Chrift,  as  thovgh  God  did  befeech  you  by  us  ; 
*ive  pray  you,  in-,  Chrift' s  fteady  be  ye  reconciled  to  God: 
That  you  may  fo  live,  that  ivhether  you  eat  or  drink,  or 
ivhatfcever  you  do,  yen  may  do  it  all  to  the  glory  of  God, 
your  great  Creator,  that  hath  given  his  Son  to  die  for  you, 
and  redee?n  you  from  all  iniquity,  that  you  ffiight  be  a  pe- 
cuuar  people,   zealous   of  good  voorks. 

Let  God  have  all  the  honour  and  glory,  for  all  his  mer- 
cies and  bieiTmgs  ;  let  us  render  unto  him  hearty  praifes, 
and  thankfgiving,  for  his  wonderful  love,  and  acknowledge 
that  it  is  a  great  privilege  that  we  may  obtain  by  Jeius 
Chrift,  even  to  be  brought  again  to  have  the  knowledge  of 
the  living  God,   which  we  loft  by  our  tranfgrelfion. 

His  Prayer  after  Sermon. 

^^L  OR  10  us  art   thou   in    thy  appearance,    0   Lord  I 

^■<IF     and   '•eery   wonderful  is   thy  poiuer,   and  thy  ivays  pa/i 

finding  out :    And  in  this  thy  glorious  day,  thou  art  opening 

■vay  for  the  fons  and  daughters  of  men,  to  turn  to  thee. 

And,   O  Lord!   thcfe   ivhofe  eyes  thou  haft  opened,  rejoice 

dare  glad,  becaufe  they  have  feen  the  way  of  thy  falvation 


a  11 


and  the  breathings  of  their  fouls  are,  that  their  feet  may  be 
kept  therein,  and  that  they  may  inake  ftrait  fteps  in  their  luay 
to- thy  kingdom, 

O  Lord  !  we  are  fenfible  that  our  ftrcngth,  and  our  power, 
and  our  ability  is  only  in  thee  ;  and  therefore  are  the  fouls 
of  thy  children  bowed  and  fubjecled  to  thee,  ivaiting  for  the 
renewing  cf  thy  power^  that  as  our  temptations  are  renewed 
from  day  to  day,  thou  luouldefi  make  known  thy  power  in  uSy 

that 


His  Prayer  after  Seraion.  8^ 

that  we  may  feel  the  ftretchijig  forth  of  thy  hand  to  fave  thy 
little  ones^  out  of  the  hands  of  the  deftroyer. 

And  fo,  powerful  God  of  Life!  break  forth  triore  and  more 
in  thy  glory y  and  tnake  known  thy  power  in  expellwg  the 
clouds  of  darknefs  and  ignorance^  and  bring  the  minds  and 
underftandtngs  of  thy  people  to  know  thee  more  and  more,  till 
they  come  to  the  bleffed  inheritance,  among  the  faints  in  light. 

Holy  and  powe?ful  Father  !  break  in  upon  thy  people  by 
thy  Almighty  Power,  and  fcatter  the  dark  clouds  of  te?npta~ 
ticn,  and  caufe  the  light  of  life  to  fliine  upon  them  ;  thou  that 
hafl  commanded  the  light  to  fhine  out  of  darknefs,  do  thou 
filne  into  the  hearts  of  the  fons  and  daughters  :j  men  ;  open 
their  hearts,  that  they  may  receive  the  truth,  and  make  ten- 
der their  hard  hearts^  that  they  may  live  to  thee  that  made 
them,  and  give  a  comfortable  account  to  thee  of  their  thoughts, 
words,  and  anions,  and  let  them  turn  to  the  Lord  before  it  be 
too  late  to  repent  of  them. 

Powerful  God  of  Life  I  thy  mercy  and  loving  kindnefs 
doth  abound,  to  a  little  remant  that  do  believe  in  Chrift,  and 
do  truft  in  thy  name  ;  thou  haft  been  with  them  in  their  fiery 
trials  and  tribulations,  and  to  this  day  thou  haft  been  the 
glory  of  our  ajfemblies^  and  the  joy  of  our  meetings.  We 
are  fenfible  of  thy  holy  power  working  in  our  fouls,  and  of 
thy  renewing  thy  love  upon  us:  All  that  defire  a  full  fenfe 
thereof,  that  are  feeking  and  crying  after  thee  for  it,  O  let 
them  be  brought  -'o  a  due  fenfe  of  thee  the  living  God  I  O  arife 
forthe  help  and  the  comfort  of  the  forrovoful,  the  fighing  andthe 
needy  foul :  Pour  forth  the  treafures  of  thy  love  upon  them 
that  follow  hard  after  thee,  and  breathe  for  deliverance  ;  that 
fo,  powerful  God  of  Life  I  praifes  may  arife  to  thee  for  all 
thy  w.ercies,  and  abundant  bleffmgs,  for  thy  goodnefs  and  loving 
kindnefs,  beftowedupon  us  from  thne  to  time, 

Moft  poiverful  God  of  Life  and  Light  I  let  the  eye  of 
thy  favour  be  turned  upon  this  land  of  our  nativity  ;  fpare 
the  inhabitants  of  this  city  and  nation,  that  they  may  feek 
after  thee  ;  let  them  know  the  weight  of  thy  hand  upon  them, 
to  bow  them  down  to  humility  and  brokennefs  of  heart ;  give 
them  repentance  for  their  fins. 

Living  God  of  Life  I  difplay  thy  povoer  to  all,  from  the^ 
highefl  to  the  loweft  am>ong  us,  and  advance  the  kingdom   of 

our 


S4  T^>^^  Intvard  Preacher  ;  or, 

onr  Lord  Jefus  Chnji,  to  vchom  thou  haft  given  a  name  above) 
every  name ;  and  let  his  kingdom  and  glory  he  exalted  ovejiJ 
ally  and  fli'uie  in  the  nil  ft  of  us, 

Bleffed  Father  of  Life  I  give  wifdom  to  our  counfellors, 
that  they  may  couhfel  for  thee  ;  make  knovjn  thy  vjill,  and 
J  end  help  from  Heaven  to  all  that  ftand  in  need  thereof^  and 
that  wait  upon  thee  for  it ;  give  them  thy  Holy  Spirit^  that 
they  may  be  guided  in  thy  vjay.  Let  thy  Son  Jefus  Chrifl 
have  the  fleering  and  governing  of  all  things,  and  let  glory 
be  rendered  to  ihy  great  and  uorthy  name,  and  keep  us  tn  the 
love  of  God  and  m  union  vjith  one  another  ;  let  theftroke  of 
thy  poiver  rcnaln  upon  the  hearts  of  all  ivhom  thou  haji 
touched  at  this  time ;  let  them  be  bovjed  down  always 
in  thy  holy  worfiipy  a?:d  rem.ain  in  a  belief  of  thy  truth, 
and  ceafe  to  do  evil^  and  learn  to  do  well,  and  walk  accep- 
tably before  thee,  that  fo  tranfgrqffiGn  may  be  finiftitdy  and 
fin  and  iniquity  may  be  put  an  end  to  ;  and  that  truth  and 
rightecufnefs  may  be  fet  up,and  Jhine  a?nongus^  and  that  our 
fuls  may  rejoice  in  thee,  that  we  may  mag/iify  and  praife 
thy  povjer,  and  glorify  thy  name  ;  for  thou  art  worthy  of  all 
honour,  praife  and  glory,  and  hmnble  tkankfglving,  for  the 
maniftjiaticn  of  thy  love  and  povjter.  y^ll  which  we  defirs 
to  offer  thee  through  Jefus  Chrijt,  v:ho  art  God  over  ally 
hh[pd  forever  and  ever.     Amen. 

S  E  R  M  O  N     VII. 

The    Inwafid   Preacher  ;   or,  tke 
Office   of  Conscience. 

Preached   at    GrACE-ChurCH  -oTREET,    June   21,   i6g2. 

^ity  Triends, 

fA  N  Y    have  been    fent   among  you,    that    from 
living  experience  have  declared  their  testimony  for 
the  truth,  that  you  might  all  be  brought  to  v/ait 
ior  the  tefdmonv  of  truth  in  vouriclves.     This  is  thax  which 

will    ' 


the  Office  of  Conscience,  8^ 

will  ftand  you  in  ftead,  to  know  the  teftimony^  of  truth  in 
your  own  hearts  to  be  for  you  ;  therefore  you  are  to  wait, 
efpeciaily  at  fuch  times  as  thefe,  to  hear  the  voice  of  truth 
in  ydur  own  fouls :  For  whatfoever  the  preacher  preacheth, 
if  the  truth  in  thine  own  heart  doth  not  fpeak  peace^  it  is 
not  well  with  thee.  Whatfoever  teftimonies  are  born  of 
the  truth  itfelf ;  it  is  the  truth  that  muft  bear  teftimony  of 
thee,  that  unerring  word,  that  gives  to  every  one  an  infal- 
lible evidence  of  their  peace  with  God,  or  againft  that 
which  hinders  ihem. 

You  know  our  labour  hath  been  to  perfuade  all  people 
to  hearken  to  the  truth  in  themfelves,  and  to  make  it  their 
bufinefs,  and  travel,  and  endeavour,  that  they  might  have 
unity  with  the  truth  in  their  own  hearts,  that  their  con- 
fciences  may  not  condemn  them. 

For  fuch  as  you,  in  whom  God  hath  raifed  his  v/itnefs, 
•and  hath  exalted  the  truth  for  a  judge,  you  are  not  igno- 
rant, nor  covered  over  with  darkneis,  as  many  others  are ; 
you  do  not  remain  in  doubt,  but  you  know  the  truth,  and 
have  an  anfwer  of  peace  in  well-doing,  and  a  condemnation 
in  evil-doing ;  not  adminiftered  to  you  only  by  preachers 
without,  but  by  the  evidence  and  demonftration  of  the  Spirit 
ofGodinyour  own  hearts.  This  is  that  ilanding  myftery 
which  God  hath  raifed,  which  can  never  be  put  down  again, 
but  as  each  one  may  put  it  down  in  themfelves. 

I  grant  that  men  m.ay  put  it  down  :  You  have  read,  and 
had  it  plainly  witneffcd  to  you,  even  kilUjig  the  jujty  and 
crucifying  the  'Lord,  of  Glory ;  and  of  fpintual  Sodom,  and 
Egypt.  Thefe  things  you  have  read  of,  and  you  that  are 
turned  to  the  light,  know  the  meaning  of  thofe  fayings, 
by  woful  experience ;  for  when  ever  you  have  turned  afide, 
from  a  due  fubjeClion  to  the  grace  of  God,  by  which  we 
are  convinced,  then  there  hath  been  a  piercing,  and  cru^ 
c'lfyuig  of  the  Son  of  God  afrefh,  and  vexing  and  griev- 
ing  the  Holy  Spirit,  by  which  you  fhoulcl  be  fcalcd  to  the 
day  of  redemption  :  Then  there  hath  been  anguilli  and  tri- 
bulation upon  your  fouls  j  and  if  this  be  mended,  it  will 
plant  a  fear  upon  your  minds,  and  make  vou  afraid  to  do 
die  like  agair,  ;  but  where  this  tribulation  and  anguifh  is 
. neglected  and  put  off,   there  a  cuftom   of  fin  takes  away 

the  ' 


SG  The  Injvard  Preacher  ;  or, 

the  fenfe  of  fin.  You  know  many  have  had  more  judg- 
ment at  Tome  time  upon  them  for  a  vain  vford,  or  a  vain 
thought,  than  afterwards  they  have  come  to  have  for  the 
moft  abominable  wicked  action.  How  came  this  to  pafs  ? 
Was  fm  ever  the  better  ?  Or  hath  it  changed  its  nature  ? 
No  ;  but  they  are  further  off  from  the  fenfe  of  the  evil 
of  it.  This  is  the  word  of  truth,  to  which  you  mmft  ftand 
or  fall  ;  this  is  the  ftone,  that  whofoever  falls  upon  it, 
fhaii  be  broken  and  tendered  ;  but  if  they^  ftay  till  the 
weight  of  truth  fall  upon  them,  it  will  grind  them  to 
powder. 

They  will  have  a  life  of  liberty,  let  the  truth  fay 
what  it  will :  I  Y.'ill  have  my  liberty,  and  ufe  my  tongue  as 
I  lift,  I  will  be  wanton  and  proud,  and  envious  and  mali- 
cious, tho'  I  know  theie  things  be  naught,  and  the  v/itnefs 
in  my  confcience  teftifies  that  thefe  things  are  wicked,  and 
contrary  to  the  will  of  God,  yet  I  will  have  them  :  Who- 
foever com.es  to  this  mind,  the  ftone  is  near  falling  upon 
them,  and  they  will  be  ground  to  powder  ;  they  are  like 
to  barren  earth,  which  beareth  thorns  and  briers,  and  is 
rejed:ed,  and  is  nigh  imto  curfmgy  ivkofi  end  is  to  be  burned. 
Therefore,  friends,  I  entreat  you  to  hearken  to  the  word 
of  the  Lord,  it  is  a  holy  word,  and  an  old  word  ;  many 
have  profeifcd  it  :  There  are  m.any  preachers  that  will 
cr}%  hearken  to  the  word  of  the  Lord  in  fuch  a  chapter, 
and  fuch  a  verfe.  My  teftim^ony  this  day  is,  hearken  to 
the  word  of  the  Lord  :  But  where  ihall  we  find  it,  fomc 
will  fay  ?  I  tell  you,  it  is  \^iitten  with  the  finger  of  God 
in  your  own  confciences  ;  and  it  is  either  for  you,  or  againft 
you.  Let  your  profeftion  among  men  be  what  it  will, 
this  Minifter  of  the  Covenant  hath  no  refped  of  perfons, 
or  regard  to  profeiTion  ;  he  will  not  excufe  this  or  that 
man,  becaufe  he  makes  a  greater  profeftion  of  his  name 
than  others  ^  this  rather  is  his  judgment,  and  his  condem- 
nation fhall  be  m.ore  fwift  and  ftiarp  upon  him  that  makes 
a  profeftlon  of  Chrift's  nam.c.  If  judgment  begin  at  the 
houfe  of  God,  ivhat  will  the  end  of  them  be  that  obey  not 
the  gofpel  of  God.  Thofe  that  take  upon  them  a  ftrid: 
profeiTion,  they  do  greater  diftionour  to  God,  than  thofe 
that  cry  out  there  is  no  reforming  j  there  can  be  no  liv- 
ing 


the  Office  cf  Conscience.  Sy 

ing  without  fin  :  Thefe  profefs  what  they  do,  and  they 
do  as  they  profefs.  But  when  people  come  to  profefs  ho- 
linefs  and  righteoufnefs,  and  profefs  a  power  alfo  by  which 
righteoufnefs  is  obtained,  but  live  not  ftriclly  according  to 
their  profeflion  j  thefe  arc  they  that  caufe  the  riame  of  God 
to  be  blafphenied  among  the  Heathen^  more  than  they  that 
fay  there  can  be  no  hving  without  fm. 

Now  this  witnefs  of  God  hath  no  refped  to  profefFion, 
but  hath  refped  to'  the  ftate  and  fram^e  of  the  mind  of  a 
man  or  v/oman,  that  they  ferve  God  with,  whether  it  be 
with  Uncerity  and  uprightnefs  of  mind,  and  with  breathing 
defires,  that  they  may  know  the  good  and  acceptable  ivill 
of  Gody  and  what  is  well-pleajlng  in  his  fight ;  and  that 
they  might  perform  that  which  is  according  to  his  hea- 
venly will.  W^here  this  fincerity  is,  where  this  cry  of  the 
foul  is,  the  Lord  hath  regard  to  it  ;  but  where  people's 
religion  is  only  to  bear  up  a  profeilion,  and  hold  up  an  ex- 
ternal fellowfnip  and  communion  one  with  another ;  v/hen 
this  fincerity  is  wanting,  the  Lord  abhors  their  \Y/orihip, 
it  is  an  abomination  to  God,  and  no  benefit  or  advantage  to 
themfelves  :  It  is  not  for  the  glory  of  God,  that  they  make 
a  profefTion,  but  for  fome  defign  to  themfelves,  and  fo 
they  become  abominable. 

This  was  the  flate  of  Ifrael  of  old,  and  it  is  the  frate 
of  a  great  many  nov/,  that  think  they  do  great  matters,  if 
they  conform  fo  far  to  the  truth,  as  that  outwardly  they 
may  not  be  charged  with  a  lye,  and  that  they  are  of  fuch 
a  fociety.  It  is  well  if  fome  would  come  fo  far  as  to  main- 
tain their  fociety  with  God's  people,  and  their  external 
profeflion  ;  but  if  they  have  not  regard  to  the  truth  in  then- 
own  confciences,  what  is  their  profelTion  worth?  What  will 
all  thy  unity  with  them  fignify  ?  If  there  be  a  breach  be- 
tween God  and  thine  own  foul,  who  can  heal  that  breach  ? 
"What  will  the  profefTion  fignify  and  amount  to  at  lafl?  But, 
go  ye  curfed  into  everlajizng  fire,  prepared  for  the  devil  and 
his  angels.  And  all  the  reafon  to  be  rendered  for  it,  is  this ; 
depart  from  me,  ye  are  vjorkers  of  iniquity  :  He  did  not  fay 
in  that  fentence,  ye  are  lyars,  you  never  prophefied  in  my 
name,  and  I  never  preached,  in  your  flreets.;  but  allowing  what 
thev  faid  to  be  truth,  that  they  had  made  a  profeflion,  and 

held 


$8  The  Inward  Preacher  ;  or, 

held  communion  with  other  Chriftians,  allowing  thefe 
things,  yet  notwithftanding  it  is,  go  ye  curfed  ;  and  the  reafont 
of  the  fentence  is,  you  are  workers  of  iniquity. 

Let  the  dread  of  the  God  of  Heaven  reft  upon  you.  My 
friends,  it  is  another  thing  to  make  a  profedion  of  the  Lord 
God  of  Heaven  and  earth,  than  moft  are  aware  of  j  let 
e'jery  one  that  names  the  name  of  Chrijty  depart  from  ini- 
quity, What  is  iniquity  ?  It  is  all  things  that  men  or 
women  ^o  to  gratify  their  own  wills  contrary  to  the  will 
of  God  ',  that  is  iniquity  :  Where  had  all  men  liberty  ? 
Where  had  Ada?n  and  his  fons  their  liberty  to  fulfil  their 
own  wills,  and  to  contradid  the  will  of  God  ?  Yet  nothing 
is  mxore  common  in  nations,  countries  and  families,  than  for 
people  to  aifum.e  a  liberty  to  perform  and  fulhl  their  own 
wills,  and  to  bring  about  their  own  intereft,  defigns  and 
contrivances,  though  at  the  fame  tim.e  they  are  convinced 
that  it  is  contrary  to  the  will  of  God.  Where  this  liberty ' 
is  taken,  there  iniquity  is  wrought  ;  that  is  iniquity  that  is 
unjuil,  that  which  is  committed  againft  him  upon  whom 
we  have  all  our  dependence  every  moment  for  life  and 
breath,  for  food  and  raiment,  and  every  thing  we  enjoy  ;  we 
have  a  dependence  upon  that  God  that  made  us,  yet  vain 
men  and  women  afiume  a  liberty  of  gratifying  their  own 
wills,  and  fetting  up  for  the  flefh. 

You  miay  remember  that  paflage  of  the  good  apoftle, 
V'hen  he  faw  fome  libertine  profeiTors  of  Chriftianity, 
grow  loofe  and  carelefs ;  they  thought  it  was  well  they  did 
acknowledge 'God  in  their  meetings  and  worfhip,  but  as  to 
the  airairs  of  the  world,  they  had  forgotten  that  God  was 
concerned  in  thofe  things ;  the  apoftle  takes  notice  of  fuch 
libertine  loofnefs,  goto  7io\Vyyoii  that  fay,  to-day  or  to-mor^ 
row  iv^  will  go  into  fuch  a  city,  and  continue  there  a  year, 
and  buy  and  fell  and  get  gain ;  whereas  you  know  not 
what  fiiall  he  on  the  morrow:  For  what  is  your  life?  It  is 
even  a  vapour,  that  appeareth  for  a  little  ivhile,  and  then 
vanifieth  away  :  For  that  you  ought  to  fay,  if  the  Lord 
will,  ive  jJiall  live  and  do  this  or  that.  You  ought  to  live  in 
fubjeClion  to  him  that  made  you,  you  ought  to  have  regard 
to  God's  honour  in  whatfoever  you  do  :  IVhether you  eat  or 
drinky  or  vohatfocver  you  do,  do  all  to  the  glory  of  God.     Is 

not 


the  Office  of  Conscience.  8c)^ 

not  this  fcripture?  Is  not  this  found  amongft  the  apoftle's 
writings?  Do  not  we  hold  the  name  of  Chriftians  which  was 
given  to  them  at  Antlocli  ?  Yea,  we  are  called  Chhfuans, 
and  thefe  v/ritings  of  the  apoflle  are  holy  v/ritings,  and 
what  then  is  the  matter  that  we  take  fo  little  notice  of  them  ? 
That  men  do  not  apply  thefe  wholefome  exhortations  to 
the  particularities  of  their  converfation,  but  that  they  go 
from  country  to  country,  and  from  one  place  to  another^ 
and  do  what  they  pleale,  without  having  an)^  regard  to  give 
their  fubjedion  to  the  great  God  :  This  loofcners  hath 
brought  into  the  mdnds^  of  fome,  fuch  a  liberty,  that  they 
live  without  God  in  the  world ;  when  they  go  fometimes 
to  religious  meetings,  and  when  they  hear  the  name"  of  God 
mentioned,  it  may  be  there  is  a  little  awe  upon  their 
minds,  and  they  have  fome  regard  to  that  God  that  gave  them 
breath  and  being,  for  the  prefent  :  But  if  there  be  not  re- 
ligion, if  there  be  not  a  tie  (rchgion  fignifies  a  tie,  a  being 
bound  to  God)  if  men  be  not  bound  and  tied  to  God,  by 
that  which  is  made  known  to  them,  every  one  will  dcfire  that 
luhich  is  gQcd  in  their  oiim  eyes. 

Therefore  it  is  neccffary  for  you,  my  friends,  above  all 
people,  you  that  are  come  to  a  meafure  of  the  mini-' 
ftration  of  the  Spirit,  to  know  and  to  mind  what  it  doth 
fpeak.  Such  a  thing  I  did  this  morning,  and  I  am  re- 
proved for  it  ',  fuch  a  thing  I  did  v^ell,  and  I  am  jufrificd 
and  warranted  in  the  doing  of  it  :  Thus  it  is  when  a  thing 
is  well  or  ill  done.  Sometimes  fome  men  ad  two  or  three 
days  together,  and  never  bring  their  adtionr,  to  the  rule  ; 
that  is,  like  a  xman  that  is  building  and  never  minds  his^ 
rule,  fo  what  he  builds  up,  tumbles  down  again  upon  his 
head.  You  know  there  is  fomething  in  you  that  hath  a 
fpeaking  voice,  an  infallible  voice,  and  gives  judgment  on 
your  adions,  and  paifeth  a  fentence,  either  of  juftificatioa 
or  condemnation  upon  you.  If  you  would  live  fo  as  to 
anfwer  God  in  wh^r  you  do,  you  need  not  fear  anfwering 
men.  I  do  not  fear  anfwering  men  in  all  I  do  or  fpeak; 
if  I  do  but  anfwei*  mine  own  confcience,  I  fear  no  man, 
tho'  he  be  of  another  pcrfualion  and  judgment  oppofite  to 
me  ;  if  I  keep  peace  in  mine  own  confcience,  I  Ihall  an- 
fwcr  the  principle  of  truth  in  mv  adverfaries  confciences, 

M   '  tho' 


c^o  The  Inward  Preacher  ;  of\ 

tho'  they  hate  me,  and  defpife  me,  and  feek  occafion  againft 
me  ;  if  my  actions  anfwer  the  truth  of  God  in  mine  own 
heart,  they  will  anfwer  the  truth  in  any  man's  heart :  This 
makes  a  m.an  as  bold  ?.s  a  lion. 

When  the  people  of  God  obtain  a  reputation,  to  be  true 
and  juft,  and  holy  and  fighteous,  all  men  will  exped  ho- 
linefs  and  righteoufnel's  at  their  hands.  What  if  I  pro- 
fefs  to  be  one  of  theie  people  ?  If  I  have  not  the  truth 
in.  my  own  hearty  tho'  I  put  on  this  reputation  as  a 
cloak  to  hide  my  inlincerity,  the  want  of  that  truth  takes 
away  my  courage.  It  is  truth  that  hath  a  power  in  all 
men  in  the  world,  and  it  is  the  power  of  hohnefs  and 
rightea''rners  that  makes  wicked  men  afraid  ;  and  therefore 
the  apoftle  argues  upon  that  iubjed,  the  magiftrate  is  cloathed 
v/ich  power.  What  power  hach  he  ?  The  power  of  juf- 
tice,  and  the  power  of  the  fword.  What  fword  hath  he  ? 
A  fword  of  juitice  ;  and  he  is  a  terro?-  to  evU-doers,  but 
a  pr^Afe  to  them  that  do  ivell.  It  is  true,  if  I  have  done 
evil,  if  I  meet  with  a  man  that  is  but  my  equal  ;  if  in 
buvin^,  and  feilino-,  and  commerce,  I  have  wron<jed  him, 
and  deceived  him.,  tho'  he  knows  not  of  it,  yet  I  am  afraid 
of  him,  I  am  fearful  that  he  will  difcover  me  and  find 
me  out  :  But  if  I  fpeak  the  truth,  and  do  that  which  is 
honed  in  the  fight  of  all  meny  \  fhali  not  fear  any  man  : 
There  is  no  nation  under  Heaven,  but  there  is  a  principle 
of  truth  to  be  found  among  them  in  the  hearts  of  men. 
'ii  I  acl  according  to  the  principle  of  truth  in  mine  own 
heart,  there  is  the  fame  principle  of  truth  in  all  men.  If 
J  walk  up  to  the  principle  of  truth  in  myfelf,  I  iball  like- 
wife  walk  up  to  the  principle  of  truth  in  all  men's  hearts ; 
if  mine  own  heart  doth  not  condemn  me,  all  the  world 
cannot  condemn  me. 

If  profeiTors  were  refolved  to  anfwer  the  principles  of 
truth  in  their  own  hearts,  and  go  thorough-ftitch  in  their 
profeiTion,  they  might  jive  courageoufly  :  Truth  will  crown 
them  v/ith  vidory.  But  if  they  do  not  live  according  to 
the  rule  and  ftandard  of  truth,  they  are  like  fait  that  hath 
loil  its  fdvour,  ivhich  is  trodde?i  under  the  feet  of  men. 
But  ^x■here  all  are  one  in  truth,  they  are  gathered  into  the 
truth,    and  they  will  live  according  to   it,    fo   far  as  they 


the  Oil  ICE  of  Conscience.  gx 

are  convinced  of  it.  If  you  would  give  them  a  world,  they 
will  not  give  away  a  hair's  breadth  of  the  truth  which  they 
have  profefTed.  V^hen  truth  thus  comes  to  have  dominion, 
then  truth  fhall  overfpread  the  earth,  and  the  kingdoms  of 
the  ivorld  JJiall  become  the  kingdoms  of  the  Lordy  and  of 
hs  Chr'ift,  and  righteoufnefs  Ihall  rule,  and  the  fceptre  of 
it  be  fwayed  over  the  nations,  and  they  that  rebel  againllr 
it,  lliall  be  broken  by  it,  and  they  that  are  found  in  it, 
(hall  have  dominion,  and  they  ihall  condemn  hypocrites 
and  diffemblers.  Now  if  you  would  grov/  up  in  this  do- 
minion, you  have  an  opportunity  for  it,  becaufe  the  truth. 
is  revealed  in   your  own   hearts. 

They  who  undertake  to  walk  in  the  truth,  meeriy  from 
what  th^^y  hear  the  minifters  of  truth  preach,  laying  up  in 
their  minds  a  company  of  doclrines^  notions  and  tenets,  thev 
will  (tumble  and  fall^but  they  that  will  hearken  to  the  trutfi 
in  their  own  hearts,  and  regard  the  voice  of  it  in  all  their 
ways  and  undertakings  ;  thele  have  a  minifter  at  home  with 
them,  they  have  a  chaplain  in  their  own  houfes ;  if  there  be 
any  thing  they  know  not,  and  if  they  know  not  what  to  do, 
they  ask  the  minifter  of  the  fanduary  j  others  will  ask 
their  minifters,  but  your  m.inifter  is  at  home  with  you  : 
"^-^here  hath  God  appointed  any  man  to  rule  over  your 
confcience  ?  No,  God  hath  appointed  Chrift  only  to  rule 
and  govern  your  confcience,  to  be  the  author  of  faith y  and- 
thefinljJier  of  it  too:  You  that  are  come  to  the  difpenfa- 
tion  of  the  Spirit  of  Chrift,  keep  to  the  teftimony  in  your 
own  hearts ;  then  you  have  fellowlhip  with  one  another  in 
the  truth  ;  and  you  have  caufe  to  blefs  God  for  it,  that  God 
hath  fo  opened  the  hearts  of  one  toward  another,  that  the 
fuffering  of  one,  is  the  fuffering  of  all ;  and  the  confolation 
of  one,  the  comfort  and  rejoicing  of  all :  But  alas  !  who  is 
in  this  fellowiliip  ?  Only  thofe  that  are  in  felio^rfliip  x^^ith 
the  truth,  in  their  own  hearts,  and  really  fo  :  If  a  man  Ihall 
break  fellowibip  with  truth  in  his  own  heart,  he  will  make 
no  bones  of  breaking  fellowfhip  with  his  brethren  :  As  foon 
as  men  break  fellowlhip  with  truth,  they'  are  unruly,  hea'y, 
troublefome,  and  make  no  matter  of  Iplitting,  and  tean- g, 
and  rending  of  fellowiliip  with  others.  Hov7  comes  i:  lo 
pafs  that  thou  haft  done  thi^ ;  Thou  didll  not  thu^  while 

t!iOu 


p2  The  Inward  PREyKiiER  ;  or, 

thou  fearedft  finning  againft  the  witnefs  of  God  in  thine  o>>"n 
hcrirt.  But  when  men  have  once  made  hght  of  the  great 
miiiifter  of  the  gofpel  in  their  own  hearts,  it  is  an  eafy  mat- 
ter to  make  light  of  the  reft ;  if,  as  Chrift  faith,  they  have 
do7ie  fo  to  the  gi^e^n  tree,  no  zvonder  that  they  do  fo  to  the  dry 
tree  :  If  they  ctefpife  me  (faith  Chriil:)  do  you  think  th.y 
vjill  love  you  /* 

It  is  mofl:  evident  in  a  great  many  at  this  day,  they  difpute 
againft  truth,  they  have  ta'ken  a  hberty  to  fpeak  contrary  ~ 
to  the  truth  in  their  own  hearts,  and  then  they  cry  down  the 
miiiiilers  of  it  :  Do  you  think  they  do  fo  that  keep  their 
iirfl  tendernefs  ?  When  they  were  convinced,  the  power  of 
the  Lord  refted  upon  them  ;  when  the  power  of  the  Lord  firfl 
wrought  upon  you,  and  brought  you  to  yea  and  nay,  and  to 
plain  fimple  language  and  habit,  this  was  with  joy  and  delight 
ior  Chrift's  fake.  They  that  keep  up  this  tendernefs  and 
fimplicity  of  mind,  there  is  no  fcattering,  nor  rending,  or 
tearing  an-ong  them,  they  keep  the  laiity  of  the  Spirit  ui  the 
bo?id  of  peace y  and  they  are  kept  together  in  one. 

Friends,  you  have  an  opportunity  in  your  hands,  fee 
that  you  make  ufeofit;  you  may  bear  up,  and  not  be  de- 
ceived by  men,  or  devils,  if  you  keep  faithful  to  the  pnn-> 
ciple  of  truth  in  your  own  hearts.  Let  what  reproach  and 
periccution  ioever  come,  here  is  a  fiandard,  a  foundation 
and  a  rule,  for  you  to  be  governed  by,  every  hour  of  the  day; 
iearch  your  hearts,  and  trv  vour  coafciences  by  it.  As  ye 
do  tliis,  and  keep  to  the  rule  of  the  new  creature,  of  the 
regeneration,  being  changed  from  a  carnal  birth  to  an  incor- 
ruptible birth.  If  yen  be  horn  rf  the  i?7corruptihie  fccdy 
the  devil  calinot  corrupt  you,  evil  paffions  cannot  corrupt 
you ;  if  you  keep  up  that  foundation  that  is  incorruptible 
m  iticif,  then  nothing  will  corrupt  you,  nor  your  ways  and 
m;^iner5:  If  you  v/ill  Uve  according  to  the-ilmpUcity  of  the 
goipcl,  you  will  ferve  God,  and  be  examples  to  others  in 
the  iife  of  holinefs  and  rigateoufnefs,'  and  hereby  God'ihall 
be  glorified.  This  is  that  which  will  fliine  forth  to  the 
whole  nation,  and  give  a  good  report  to  truth  :  But  if  any 
that  profefs  the  truth,  be  found  falfe  to  their  profelfion, 
and  be  found  unholy,  and  deceive  and  over-reach  their  neigh- 
bour,  they  loic  by  it,  and  the  devil  rejoiceth  at  it. 

Thus 


\ 

the  Office  of  Conscience.  <?j 

Thus  we  know  the  life  of  righteournefs  is  brought  forth 
through   the   Spirit  of  truth,    and  out-lhines   all,   and   will 
reach  God's   witnefs  in    them  that   are  afar  off,  and  bring 
them  near  ;  and  happy  and  bleiled  are  they  that  are  found 
in  this  divine  woik,  conforming  their  lives  and  converlationJ 
according  to   the   new  creature,  peace  be  upon  them,   and 
upon  the   whole   Ifrael  cf  God.     There  is   a   minifter   that 
abides  with  you,  that   goes  home  with  you,    it  is  his  tefci- 
mony  that  you  muft  ftand  or  fall  by :  If  any  one  Inould  be 
a  falie  profefebr,  and  be  cried  up,  if  he  be   not  fmcere,  he 
hath  not  peace  ;  though  he  flutter  awhile,  and  make  a  fhcw, 
the   worm  of  guilt  gnaws  and  torments  hipxi ;  fuch  as  theic 
have  not  peace  with  God,  nor  feilowihip  with  the  church  : 
Though  they  feem  to  b-^  alive,  yet  they  are  dead  j  as  it  was 
with  the  churches  in  y^Jia,  they  had  a  name  to  IlvCy  yet  they 
ivere    dead;    though    they   have  an    empty    name,   fuch    a 
one  is  a  living   man  or  woman,  they  are  eileemed  friends  to 
the  churchy   but  though  they  are  commended  and  cried  up, 
and  have  a  name  to  live,  yet  the3/  are  dead  ;  there  is  a  fevj 
names  in  Sardis  vjhich  ha^ce  not  defi'ed  their  garments^  they 
fliall  walk  with  me  in  white,  faith  Chrift,  for  thc^y  are  worthy. 
I  know  thy  Wforks^  that  thou  haft  a  starve,  that  thou  livefl,  and  art 
dead.     See   what   Chriil:,   the   bright    Morning-Star,    could 
do:  He   could    look  into  a  meetire,   and   lee  whether  few 
or   m.any  had  only  a  name  to  live,   or  were   really   alive ; 
if  they  were   dead  as   to    fmcerity  and   truth,   though  they 
had  been  among  the  church,   they  would  help  to  break  it 
down,  but  not  to  build  it  up. 

You  that  have  this  divine  life  ftill  ftirring  in  you,  and 
feel  the  operation  that  lirft  quickened  you  to  God,  prize 
this  principle  of  the  divine  life  above  all  :  What  is  there  can 
rob  you  of  it  ?  Value  not  the  fricndihip  of  the  World  :  Alas  \ 
V/hat  can  it  amount  to  ?  Count  it  as  dAing  in  covipanfon  of 
Chrift  Jefus  ;  look  upon  all  things  with  a  found  eye: 
Peace  with  God  is  of  that  concernment,  that  you  cannot  be 
happy  here  or  hereafter,  without  it ;  the  friendihip  of  the 
v/orld  I  can  be  without,  and  the  cuftoms  and  fafhions  of 
the  world  I  can  be  without,  I  can  fpare  thefe  things  j  but  the 
favour  of  God  I  cannot  be  without,  and  grcvjth  in  grace 
and  the  knowledge  of  cur  Lord  and  Saviour  Jefus   Chrif,  and 

a 


j4  ^^i^  Inward  Preached,  dec. 

a  fmcere  profeffion  of  the  gofpel ;  I  cannot  be  without  thefe 

thines. 

o 

My  friends,  though  you  do  not  make  a  fhew  and  flutter 
in  the  v/orld,  as  fome  others  do,  yet  your  glory  is  within  , 
they  that  are  living  members  of  this  divine  body,  the  glory, 
and  beauty  and  brightnefs  of  fuch,  appears  in  the  fight  of 
God.  If  you  grow  in  grace,  you  will  be  a  comfort  to  one 
another  j  and  as  the  apoille  fpeaks,  you  are  our  epiftle  xvrit- 
ten  in  our  heans,  kiiown  and  read  of  all  men.  The  Lord 
preferve  and  keep  you  fimple,  keep  you  in  alhfmcerity, 
m  that  truth  that  hath  wrought  in  your  own  hearts,  that 
you  may  have  acquaintance  with  your  teacher,  that  he  may 
not  be  driven  into  corners  j  for  you  may  do  it,  and  flop 
his  mouth,  and  filence  him  too.  If  you ,  let  your  per- 
verfe  will  rule,  you  may  flay  the  juft  j  but  there  will  come 
a  day  of  his  rifing,  then  down  you  go.  "V^hatfoever  men 
mav  get  by  it  at  prefent,  when  truth  rifeth,  v/hen  the 
Jult  One  that  v/as  flain  hath  a  refurredion  in  them,  then 
mod  certain  down  they  go.  While  you  have  an  oppor- 
tunity in  your  hands,  and  an  intereft  in  the  covenant 
of  life,  walk  ^^'ith  God  according  to  the  counfel  and  dic- 
tates of  his  Holy  Spirit,  that  you  may  be  brought  to  a 
heavenly  fellowihip,  and  to  partake  of  the  good  things 
that  God  hath  prepared   for  his   children. 

My  friends,  pray  prize  your  feafons,  let  no  day  fiip, 
for  fear  you  mifs  a  day  at  lafl:  j  wait  upon  the  Lord,  and 
let  his  fear  and  a  holy  awe  be  always  upon  your  hearts : 
Then  peace  will  be  upon  you,  and  there  will  be  accep- 
tance of  all  that  vou  do.  Mark  the  iperfeCt  man,  and  he- 
hold  the  upright^  for  the  end  of  that  man  is  peace  ;  when 
he  can  reflect  upon  his  paft  life,  and  fay,  I  have  walked 
before  the  Lord  with  a  perfect  hdart,  and  done  that  which 
is  good  and  well  pleafing  in  his  fight,  and  have  not  turned 
afide  to  the  right  hand  or  to  the  left,  but  the  Standard  of 
Truth  hath  been  the  guide  of  all  my  fpirltual  and  tempo- 
ral adions.  If  truth  hath  been  thy  giiule  here,  then  truth 
fhall  be  thy  portion  hereafter.  If  truth  guide  thee  in  thy 
way,  then  thou  ihalt  rejoice  with  the  faints,  and  receive 
an  inheritance  with  the  people  of  God,  and  enjoy  that 
glory  and  felicity  which  God  hath  prepared  for '  them  that 
love  him.  '  His 


His  Prayer  ojter  Sermon. 

EVERLASriNG,  glorious,  eternal  God  of  Vfe  I 
iv/iofe  kingdom  ruletli  over  all ;  thy  kingdojn  is  an  ez'er^ 
lafling  kingdom  ;  a  glorious,  blejjed  day  hath  dawned,  where-* 
in  thou  art  makiyig  thy  [elf  known  to  the  fons  and  daughters  of 
men  ;  and  thou  haft  opened  an  eye  in  a  remnant  (which  the  God 
of  this  world  had  blinded)  to  fee  the  glory  of  this  day.  For  tho" 
v^)e  have  lived  without  God  in  the  world,  yet  thou  art  near  to 
us,  and  thou  hafl  called  us  to  repentance,  and  infpired  our 
fouls  vjith  a  defire  to  thee,  and  to  the  remembrance  of  thy  name  : 
Praife  and  everlafling  thankfgivtngs  belong  unto  thee,  who 
art  the  author  of  our  falvation  ;  who  haft  reached  out  thy  hand 
and  laid  hold  upon  uSy  and  fought  us  out  when  we  fcvght  thes 
not,  and  haft  made  knozvn  thy  power  and  love  for  our  redemp- 
tion and  falvation  ;  and  thou  wilt  make  it  known  more  and 
more  to  every  upright,  fincere  mind, 

O  powerful  Father  of  Lfe  I  how  hath  thy  power  and 
goodnefs  been  revealed  on  our  behalf  for  thine  own  name*s 
fake?  Thou  hafl  food  by  us  in  all  our  trials  and  exercifes,  and 
we  have  found  thee  a  God  nigh  at  hand,  and  thou  haft  brought 
a  remnant  to  defire  nothing  fo  much  as  the  enjoyment  of  thy 
prefence  ;  thou  haft  brought  them  to  be  fenfible,  that  without 
thee  they  can  do  nothing;  therefore,  in  all  our  affemblies  and 
meetings,  we  defire  to  be  acquainted  with  thy  power,  to  hear 
thy  word  which  f peaks  life  to  our  fouls,  by  which  we  may 
live, 

A'jid  dear  and  powerful  Father  !  the  continuation  of  thy 
goodnefs  among  us,  doth  greatly  engage  the  hearts  of  thy  chil- 
dren, to  offer  up  praifes  and  thankfgivings  to  thee,  Thcu 
haft  inclined  the  minds  and  hearts  of  thy  people  to  wait  upon 
th:?,  and  haft  opened  their  underftandings  to  receive  thy  hea- 
venly truth,  and  tkofe  rich  and  heavenly  treafures  which  thou 
offereft  them,  and  haft  provided  a  cup  of  falvation  to  refrejh  the 
poor  cmd  needy  foul. 

O  Living  God  of  Life  !  reach  forth  thy  hand,  to  fuppQrf 
andfave  thofe  that  are  breathing  after  thee,  that  are  fenfble  of 
the  want  of  thy  prefence,  and  are  frequenting  the  ajfeml^es  of 
thy  people,  ivith  a  hope  and  defire  that  they  may  enjoy  a 
blejftn'g  from  thee. 

Lilting 


c)S        Saving  Faith,  the  Gift  of  GOD  alone. 

Living  God  of  Life  I  touch  their  hearts  ivith  the  finger  of 
thy  power, '  let  them  kno-iv  that  thou  art  ready  to  open  the  trea- 
fare  of  thy  love,  and  Ife  unto  them,  through  the  Lord  Jefus 
Chrift,  that  their  fouls  may  be  comforted,  and  they  tnay  offer 
up  facrifices  of  thankfgiving.  And  let  all  thy  children 
every  where,  render  to  thy  name,  through  Jefus  Chrifl,  blef- 
fug,  and  h'jnour^  and  praife  ;  who  art  God  over  all,  hlejpd 
forever  and  ever*     Amen. 

S  E  Pv  M  O  N    VIIL 
Saving  Faith,  the  Gift  o/"  GOD  alone. 

^reached  at  GrACE-ChurCH-Street,  March  8y  iGSy, 

^yyiy  yr lends, 

O  U  that  are  made  partakers  of  that  precious  faith, 
which  hath  brought  you  to  an  expedation  of  that 
redemption  and  dehverance  that  comes  alone  by 
Chrift  Jefus,  your  minds  ihould  be  continually  exercifed 
in  that  faith  which  God  hath  given  you,  for  it  is  a  great  gift, 
a  bleded  gift  that  he  hath  given  to  us  to  beheve.  This  never 
came  of  ourlelves,  never  was  there  a  true  believer  in  Chrift 
Jeilis,  but  he  received  his  faith  of  God,  it  was  the  gift  of 
God,  it  was  given  to  him  to  believe.  Other  forts  of  believ- 
ers there  are  in  the  world,  that  can  communicate  their  faith 
one  to  another ',  but  they  are  t/ue  believers  that  have  their 
faith  communicated  to  them  by  the  Spirit  of  Jefds  Chrift,  it 
is  given  to  them,  that  believe ;  and  becaufe  it  is  fo  excellent 
and  fo  heavenly  a  gift,  and  hath  fuch  large  privileges  be- 
longing to  it,  it  is  neceiTary  that  every  one  that  receives  ir_, 
fhould  have  a  continual  exercife  in  it ;  that  you  may  knox<^ 
what  it  is,  and  what  it  doth  for  you,  and  fo  com^e  to  be 
experienced  Chriftians.  Now  all  that  are  partakers  of  it, 
they  do  believe,  and  know  in  whom  thev  have  believed, 
and  for  v/hat  they  have  believed,  even  for  the  faving  of  their 
fouls. 

The  true  faith,  that  is  the  gift  of  God,  it  is  not  at  all 

fhort 


Saving  Faith,  the  Gift  of  GOD  alone*      c^y 

fhort  of  a  complete  faving  of  their  fouls ;  they  that  truly 
believe,  their  faith  (lands  in  one  that  they  know  is  able  to 
fave  to  the  utmoft  ;  and  fo  a  true  believer  hath  a  p'eat  com- 
fort in  his  faith  above  all  other  believers  in  the  world  ;  for 
he  knows  that  his  faith  reaches  to  a  complete  redemption, 
unto  a  complete  fanclification,  unto  a  complete  fitting  of 
him  for  the  kingdom  of  God. 

Now  there  is  no  fuch  faith  that  ever  was  made  by  men, 
there  is  no  fuch  faith  that  all  the  wife  and  learned  men  upon 
the  face  of  the  earth,  have  either  preached  or  given  fortxh  to 
be  received  ;  for  if  you  come  to  confider  the  divers  forms  of 
faith  that  men  have  miniftered,  they  will  fall  fhort  of  faving 
their  fouls,  they  fall  fhort  of  redemption,  they  fall  iliort  of 
fitting  and  preparing  them  for  the  kingdom  of  God,  and 
fb  they  have  not  that  comfort,  that  fatisfadion,  and  that 
inward  refrefhment  that  belongs  to  the  others,  or  that  ac- 
crues to  their  fouls,  that  have  the  faith  of  Gcd's  ele^i. 

And  herein  hath  been  the  privilege  of  the  people  of 
God  in  all  ages,  as  well  as  in  our  age  ;  their  faith  hath 
had  a  farther  extent,  it  hath  reached  farther  in  order  to 
the  good  of  their  fouls,  than  the  faith  of  all  others  hath 
done  :  What  comfort  can  a  ferious  Chriftian  take  in  a 
faith  that  falls  fliort  of  righteoufnefs  and  redemption  ?  Xv^ould 
it  not  make  a  man  or  woman's  heart  ach,  to  think  I 
am  a  believer,  but  yet  I  have  no  faith  that  reacheth  to 
fand:ification,  and  holy  living,  and  redemption  from  fin  ? 
All  my  faith  leaves  me  a  finner  all  my  days  ;  to  my  dy- 
ing hour  there  is  no  maftery  to  be  had,  no  getting  vic- 
tory over  fin,  it  will  prevail  over  me  as  long  as  I  live. 

This  is  not  that  precious  faith  that  God's  elecl  have  been 
made  partakers  of,  that  works  efFedually  in  their  fouls  y 
this  is  not  that  faith  that  can  minifter  real  comf:)rt  to  the 
poor  foul  that  is  laden  "with  iniquity,  and  weary  of  fin  ', 
the  faith  that  falls  Ihort  of  fanctification,  and  redemption 
from  fin,  is  fuch  a  faith  as  God  never  gave  his  people  ; 
it  came  fome  other  way  into  the  world,  and  it  hath  cap- 
tivated moft  of  the  fons  and  daughters  of  men,  and  they 
have  expelled  the  true  faith  (as  much  as  in  them  lies)  that 
faving  faith  that  purifies  and  cleanfes  men  from  fin,  and 
^ives  them  victory  over  the  world,    and  have  got  another 

N  faith 


c)B       Saving  Faith,  the  Gift  of  GOD  alone. 
faith  in  the  room  of  it  j  and  they  live  in   their  fins,   and 
in   their  lufts  and  concupifcence,  and  ftill   remain  in  cap- 
tivity. 

But  God  was  pleafed  to  hear  and  anfwer  the  cry  of  the 
fouls  of  a  remnant  (for  which  many  of  us  have  caufe  to 
maenify  the  name  of  our  God)  when  we  had  travelled  from 
mountain  to  hill,  to  feek  where  true  comfort  might  be 
found,  where  one  fhould  fay  to  us  that  we  fhould  over- 
come. \Fe  know  there  is  no  eating  of  the  tree  of  life 
until  we  do  overcome  ;  nor  entering  into  God's  kingdom 
till  we  be  cleanfed.  Some  laid  an  imxpodibility  in  our 
way,  which  made  m.any  a  one  to  m.ourn.  "V/liat,  muft  we 
never  be  cleanfed  ?  Mud:  this  crooked  heart,  and  perverfe 
will,  always  rem.ain  ?  Muft  I  be  a  fmner  and  a  believer  ? 
A  fmner,  and  call  myfelf  a  child  of  God  ?  How  can  thefe 
thini^s  hang  together  ?  Thefe  have  made  many  to  faint 
in  their  minds,  and  to  fay  as  David  did  in  his  diftrefs, 
0/7!?  day  I  jiiaU  per?fh  by  the  hand  of  SauL  One  'day  this 
corruption  will  be  my  ruin  ',  for  all  my  prayers,  and  hear- 
ing, and  other  duties  and  performances,  this  fm  will  be 
my  utter  ruin  at  laft. 

After  many  have  mourned,  and  been  afflided^  bv  rea- 
fon  of  the  burden  that  was  upon  them,  it  hath  pleafed  the 
Lord  to  vifit  a  remnant,  and  to  open  their  hearts  to  make 
known  the  precious  faith^  the  faith  of  Gcd's  elecf,  the  faith 
that  vjas  once  delivered  to  the  faints.  Is  this  the  faith  that 
is  worthy  of  an  earneft  contending  for,  and  preaching  for, 
and  fuifering  for  ?  Who  was  ever  fo  mad,  as  to  fuffer  for 
fuch  a  faith  as  will  leave  a  man  under  the  power  of  fa- 
tan,  and  his  own  lufcs  ?  No  v/onder  that  fuch  have  a  faith 
that  is  not  worth  contending  and  fuffering  for.  "^ho  will 
expofe  themieives  for  fuch  a  faith  that  will  never  do  them 
a  kindnefs  ?  Now  that  faith  whfch  belongs  to  a  purifed 
foul,  to  one  that  is  fandlified,  that  faith  delivered  to  the 
faints,  it  is  called  a  Jhield ;  when  once  a  Chriftian  comes 
to  m.ake  ufe  of  this  faith  as  a  fhield,  he  will  find  the 
power  of  it.  A  ihield  is  that  which  is  \<orn  by  perfons 
that  are  among  enemies  ;  it  is  for  the  defence  and  lafe- 
guard  of  one  that  is  befet  with  enemies  j  and  a  good 
Chrii^ian  is  fb   iituated. 

There 


Saving  Faith,  the  Gift  of  GOD  alone.       j>9 

There  is  a  fort  of  blind  Chriftians,  friends  to  ihe  \corId, 
their  chriftianity  is  worldly,  and  their  faith  worldly  ;  but 
all  true  Chriftians  are  in  the  midft  of  their  enemies,  in- 
ward and  outward  ;  and  if  they  had  not  the  fhield  of  faith 
to  defend  them,  they  would  certainly  be  wounded  every 
day,  they  would  be  flain  and  lofe  their  lives  :  The  faith 
that  is  called  a  fhield,  it  is  that  by  which  a  Chrifrian 
is  to  be  defended  and  faved  from  harm  defigned  againft 
him  every  hour  j  for  the  devil  goes  about  like  a  roaring 
Hotly  conti?iually  feekr/:g  whom  he  may  devour.  The  apoftle 
fpeaks  more  particularly  to  believers ;  tJ.e  devil,  your  adver- 
fary,  he  is  an  adverfary  in  himfelf,  but  more  efpecially 
your  adverfary  that  are  believers  ;  that  have  believed  to  the 
faving  of  your  fouls.  You  that  believe  that  Chrift  is  fent 
of  God,  endued  with  power  fufficient  to  break  his  head, 
and  power  to  redeem  you  out  of  his  fervice  and  bondage, 
the  devil  will  be  your  adverfary  :  Let  him  be  fo,  if  I 
have  but  my  fhield.  This  is  that  which  if  a  man  ufe,  he 
will   quench  all   the  fiery  darts  of  the  devil. 

If  a  man  come  once  to  receive  the  faith,  the  true  faith, 
faith  in  the  power  of  God,  this  fiith  will  remain  victo- 
rious over  temptation  ',  but  if  thou  doll  not  keep  thy  faith 
in  a  continual  exercife,  thou  doft  ifOt  defcrve  the  nam.e  of 
a  true  believer  :  If  a  man  receive  the  true  faith,  and  grow 
carelefs  in  his  chnftian  exercife,  will  not  this  adversary, 
the  devil,  be  about  his  ears  ?  Will  not  he  fend  forth  His 
fiery  darts  at  him  j  his  temptations,  and  fnares,  and  gins, 
to  entangle  him,  tho'  he  be  a  believer,  if  he  doth  not 
keep 'in  the  continual  exercife  of  his  faith  ?  But  a  true 
Chriftian,  that  feels  the  power  of  the  grace  of  God,  and 
is  in  the  continual  exercife  of  true  faith,  he  is  like  a  watch- 
man or  fentinel,  that  hath  his  armour  on,  and  his  fliield 
ready,  he  knows  he  is  on  the  borders  of  his  enemies  quar- 
ters, and  he  keeps  himfelf  in  perpetual  watchfulnefs,  in 
daily  expectation  of  the  devil's  fiery  darts  ,  he  keeps  his 
fhield  in  readinefs  j  I  fee  a  temptation  lies  in  fuch  a  thing., 
but  I  fee  the  Lord's  power  is  able  to  keep  me  out  of 
it.  I  fee  there  is  profit  or  pleafure  in  the  fnare  ;  it  is 
a  hook  that  is  baited,  but  I  fee  the  hook  through  the 
bait,  bleffed   be  God  y_    and    I  have  a  confidence    in   his 

power 


100     Saving  Faith,  the  Gift  of  GOD  alone, 

power,  and  that  he  is  able  to  keep  nie  from  that  thing,  for  all 
the  baits  of  profit,  pieafure,  or  the  friendinip  of  the  \c^orld, 

A  believer  keeps  iii  the  exercife  of  his  faith,  and  con- 
fiders  that  his  falvation  is  nearer  than  when  he  firft  believed  ; 
the  people  that  believe,  are  not  prefently  f'^ved,  the  work  of 
falvation  is  to  be  wrought  after  they  believe  ;  for  without 
jaith^  it  is  inipoffiole  .to  pleafe  Gody  neverthelefs  the  foun- 
dation of  Gcd  ftandeth  fure,  it  is  founded  upon  the  pov/er 
of  God  j  when  a  man  believeth,  the  work  is  begun  ;  tho' 
fome  foolilb  profeilors  tell  us,  that  the  work  is  done  when 
the  a6:  is  only  in  the  mind  ;  thev  will  tell  you  what  day 
of  the  month,  and  fuch  a  day  of  the  vear  their  converfion 
was  wrought  j  but  they  know  not  v/hat  they  fay.  A  man 
may  pofubly  know  when  it  was  brought  about:  A  man 
m.ay  know  about  the  time  when  God  communicated  faith 
to  him  ;  but  he  muft  know  after  he  is  a  believer,  then 
begins  the  work  of  falvation,  the  believer  is  to  be  faved 
from  this  or  the  other  enemy ;  he  is  not  prefently  faved 
from  all,  there  muft  be  a  warfare,  a  fighting  the  good  fiight 
of  faith,  before  thefe  enemies  of  his  falvation  ar.-  overcome  ; 
the  devil  will  not  give  over  becaule  I  am  a  believer,  and 
becaule  Chri it  promifed  to  break  his  head ;  the  feed  of  the 
ivornan  fnall  break  the  ferlpent's  head,  I  am  now  but  put- 
ting on  my  armour  ,  the  battle  is  not  fought  j  I  have  not 
yet  gone  through  tlie  peril  of  the  light  ',  I  am  now  buckling 
on  my  armour  ;  when  the  fight  comes,  if  I  have  not  my 
(hield  and  my  armour  ready.  I  may  be  flain  for  all  this  ; 
fome //.'2i'^  made  JJiipivreck  of  faithy  they  have  not  held  it, 
nor  kept  the  faith,  but  given  it  away :  But  faith  the  apof- 
tle,  I  have  fought  the  good  fight,  I  have  kept  the  faith,  I 
have  gotten  the  viclory. 

So  people,  after  they  are  believers,  they  muft  wait  to  have 
their  faith  ftrengthened  by  renewed  m.anifeftations  of  the 
jame  power  in  v/hich  it  firft  ftood :  They  muft  wait  upon 
the  Lord,  and  he  will  renew  the  ftrength  of  their  faith, 
zeal  and  courage  ;  and  as  temptations  are  renewed,  they  have 
new  courage,  and  new  ftrength  and  new  ability,  and  all  by 
this  divine,  fpiritual  and  Chriftian  exercife;  they  every  day 
cop.ie  to  fee  the  work  they  believed,  that  which  their 
faith  tended  to,  fee  the  work  in  fome  meafurc  wrought,  they 

fee 


Saving  Faith,  the  Gift  of  GOD  alone,     lot 
fee  fome  enemy  of  their  fouls  brought  down  and  flain,  and 
they  fee  their  fouls  come  up  to  a  little  more  dominion  than 
they  had  before  ;  they  fee  the  devil's  power  is  weakened 
more  than  before,  and  that  he  hath  not  fo  much  power  as  he 
hath  had  over   them.     Thefe  things  are  fome   encourage- 
ment to  raife  up  in  a  true  Chriilian,  living  praifes  to  God  ; 
feeing,  by  believing,   he  hath  found  thus  much  encourage- 
ment" by  the  working  of  the  word,  why  fhould  he  not  wait 
on  the  Lord  for  the  accompliihment   of  this  work,  that  he 
may  believe  to  the  faving  of  his  foul,  that  he  may  come 
to  receive  the  end  of  his  hope  and  faith,  the  falvation  of 
his   foul  ?    Now,   by  thus  keeping  their  faith   in   exercife, 
they  know  that  thdi'  falvation  is  nearer  noiv,  than  "jjhen  they 
firfl  believed.     It  is   not  fo  with  every  one,  for  many  that 
have  believed,  their  falvation  is  fartheft  off,  becaufe  ot  their 
negligence,    profeiTing  one    thing  with  their  m.ouths,   and 
doing  another  thing  in  their  practice  ;  there  are  fome  things 
which  they  beUcve  and  profefs,  and  yet  do  the  contrary ; 
that  puts  their   falvation   further  off,  and    draws   them  fe- 
cretly  into   defponding,    and    into  a    lofing  their  courage 
and  zeal  for  God  ;  the  cuftom  of  finning  hath  at  laR:  taken 
away  the  fenfe  of  finning.     It  is  fo  with  a  man  v/hen  he 
iirft  tranfgrelfeth  the  rule,   he  is  fomewhat  tender,  and  doth 
it  with  fome  regret  ;  but  after  he  is   come  to  a  cuftom   of 
doing  it,  he  is  pretty  well  at  eafe,  and  fo  by  degrees  he  goes 
on  towards  the  ftate   of  being  paft  feeling.     At  laft  inch 
fmners  come  to  dying  ;    they  were  dead  once  before,   and 
were  quickened  through  the  operation  of  :he   Spirit  of  Chrifl 
Jefus ;  they  were  quickened,  and   if  they  iliall   die  again, 
if  you  die  a  fecond  time,  pray  remember  it  is  a  iecond  time ; 
you  that  are  carelefs  and  ready  to  die,  remember  it  is  the 
fecond  death  that  you  are  going  to  ;    and  confider  that  if 
you  die  the  fecond  death,  you  ftiall  have  no  part  of  the  frjl 
refurreBion  :    Better  fuch  had  never  been  born  at  all,  iliaa 
after  they  have   lived  in  hope,   to   lofe  it  again.     This  is 
that    which   was  upon   my  heart  to    commend  linto  you, 
that   you    may  partake  of  ;:his  precious  faith,   that  hath  a 
tendency  to  the  favine  of  the  foul,    and  fitting   vou  for 
the  kingdom  of  God.     Hath  God  given   you  to  believe  ? 
And  will  you  not  believe  that  you  fliall  live  without  im  ? 

If 


HOT.     Saving  Faith^  the  Gift  of  GOD  alone. 

If  you  come  to  obtain  this  precious  faith,  you  will  be- 
lieve that  you  (hall  come  to  live  without  finning  againft: 
God,  and  have  the  light  of  his  countenance  fhining  upon 
you.  He  that  truly  believeth,  his  faith  reacheth  to  this, 
and  he  will  fay  to  himfelf,  I  am  faved  a  little  from  the 
liberty  of  my  tongue,  and  from  many  fins  of  an  evil  prac- 
tice :  God  hath  redeemed  me  from  my  vanity,  pride  and 
pallion,  and  other  things  that  were  troublefome,  the  Lord 
hath  redeemed  me  from  them  j  I  fee  the  work  is  going 
on,  and  I  am  nearer  to  the  kingdom  of  God  than  when  I 
firft  believed  ;  I  have  gotten  vidory  over  many  of  my 
fpiritual  enemies,  and  I  hope  the  Lord  will  carry  me  on, 
and  keep  me  by  his  power  through  faith  unto  falvation  : 
Hitherto  the  Lord  hath  helped  me,  I  have  not  fought  in 
vain,  I  have  not  been  beating  the  air,  but  God  hath  given 
me  vidory  over  the  tempter  inwardly  and  outwardly,  fo 
that  he  could  not  prevail,  whiift  I  kept  the  ihield  or  faith 
over  my  head  ;  but  when  I  have  been  carelefs,  and  not 
exercifed  my  faith  as  a  fliield,  I  have  been  weak  as  other 
men. 

You  are  not  called  to  weaknefs  and  feeblenefs,  but  to 
the  power  of  God,  that  you  may  be  exercifed  in  it,  and 
by  it  be  kept  from  the  evil  of  the  world  :  There  is  a 
poiTibility  of  being  kept,  if  you  be  faithful  to  him  that 
hath  called  you,  that  is,  Chnft  Jefus^  the  Captain  of  our 
Salvatiofij  if  you  follow  him  ftep  by  ftep,  and  do  not 
run  headlong  all  at  once  ?  when  you  fee  a  great  deal  of 
fm  and  corruption  before  you,  and  feek  to  mafter  it  in 
your  own  ftrength,  you  will  lofe  the  victory  :  The  fame 
word  that  fhev/eth  us  our  fm,  Iheweth  us  our  own  ina- 
bility to  overcome  it,  and  that  we  can  do  nothing  with- 
out divine  afiifrance;  tho*  we  He  long  ftruggling  under  the 
weight  and  burden  of  fin,  we  cannot  of  ourfelves  get  vic- 
tory over  it,  we  cannot  bring  judgment  into  vidory,  God 
mud  have  the  glory  of  it.  If  you  keep  to  Jefus,  he  will 
carry  on  the  work  ;  you  did  believe  in  him,  for  he  did 
work  this  taith  in  you,  and  he  will  carry  on  his  own 
work,  and  his  own  work  fliall  praife  him.  All  others  that 
talk  of  faith,  and  make  an  empty  profeffion,  they  diiho- 
nour  God  j  they  talk  of  perfection,  and  living  without  fin, 

but 


His  Prayer  after  Sermon.  toj 

but  never  experience  it,  and  lb  bring  difnonour  to  God : 
If  you  wait  to  fee  this  work  carried  on  ,*  if  you  believe 
and  exercife  your  faith  for  the  overcoming  of  your  fins, 
and  perfedling  hciinefs  in  the  fear  of  God,  you  will  hereby 
bring  glory  to  God,  who  alone  is  worthy  of  ail  praife  ; 
who  is  God  over  all,  bielled  for  ever  more.     Ame7i.\ 

His  Prayer  after  Sermon.         \ 

71  /f  ^  S  T   bleffed,    holy,    and  unchangeable  Lord  God 
JL  yJ.    thou  haft  vifited  us  by  thy  dear  Son  and  our  Sa'uiou, 
Jefus  Chrijiy  to  gather  us  to  be  a  people  unto  thee,  zvho  once 
ivere  not   a  people,    ai;.d  once    not  gathered, 

'Eierlafting  Father  I  thy  mercy  is  gr-eat,  and  thy  gcod- 
nefs  is  great,  and  to  be  gready  prized  by  us  all ;  thou 
hadft  compajjion  on  us  to  help  us  when  voe  could  not  help 
ourfelves  ;  and  thou  haft  laid  help  upon  one  that  is  tnigjity 
and  able  to  fave  to  the  uttermoft  all  that  come  unto  thee 
by  him, 

Bleffed  God,  and  Father  of  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  I  ive 
give  thee  thanks  for  thy  abundant  mercy  and  goodnefs  ex- 
tended to  us.  Lord  God  Eternal  !  extend  thy  mercy  more 
and  more  ^  and  vifit  the  children  of  men  in  all  nations  with 
the  knovjledge  of  thy  truth. 

Bleffed  Father  of  Life  !  we  pray  and  cry  to  thee,  that 
thy  work  may  go  on,  and  that  it  may  profper  and  encreafe, 
and  let  the  day  of  thy  vijitation  be  extended,  and  reach  forth 
thy  Almighty  Arm^  that  the  children  of  ynen  may  be  gathered 
unto  thee. 

Bleffed  F other  of  Life  !  thou  haft  Jlieivn  mercy  to  our 
foulsy  and  lue  have  feen  the  goings  of^God  in  his  fancluary  ; 
thou  hajiy  by  an  out-Jiretched  army  gathered  us  to  be  a  people 
to  thy f elf ;  thou  haft  appeared  for  thy  people  in  all  ages, 
and  thou  haft  faved  them  cut  of  oppreffon,  and  ftilled  the 
fury  of  the  enemy.  Thou  haft  cut  Rahab,  and  wounded 
the  dragon,  and  made  way  for  thy  people  Ifrael,  that 
they  pajfed  through  the  Red-Sea  as  on  dry  land.  Lord, 
do  fo  for  thy  people  fpiritually  in  our  day,  and  make  way 
for  theniy  and  open  the  door  that  thy  gofpel  fnay  fpread,  and 
ruUy  and  be  glorified^  and  ha^^e  a  fres  cqurfe  amorg  us  j  and 

that 


J04  Truth* s   Testimony  agalnfl  the 

that  thy  worfnip  may  be  fet  «/>,  and  pure  incenfe  may  he 
offered  up  to  thee.  0  Lord  I  this  is  the  cry  of  thy  fervants, 
and  the  voice  of  their  flip  plications  to  thee,  that  thy  Spirit 
may  be  poured  out  abundantly  and  operate  upon  them,  that 
thy  word  may  he  profitable  and  voelcome  to  their  fouls, 

Blcffed  Father  of  mercy  1  thou  hafl  blejfed  thy  childreji 
and-  people  with  fpiritual  bleJTtngs  in  Chrifl  Jefus,  Tliou  hafl 
given  us  thy  pleafure  this  day  ;  and  blejfed  be  thy  name, 
thou  hafl  refreflied  our  fouls  at  this  feafon  ;  let  our  praifes 
afcend  as  a  fiveet  fmelling  favour,  and  acceptable  fervice  to 
thee  :  And  for  all  thy  mercies  and  renewed  favours  and 
hlefjings  to  us,  and  to  all  thy  people,  both  here  and  every 
whercy  let  thankfgivi'ng  and  living  praifes  he  rendered  to 
thee  ;  for  thou  alone  art  worthy  of  all  ble^ffing  and  praife, 
who  art  God  over  all,   blejfed  forever.     Amen. 

S  E  Pv  M  O  N     IX. 
TRUTH'S    TESTIMONY 

AGAINST     THE 

Power   of   Sin  and  Satan* 

Preached  at    Grace-Church -STREET^    June ^,   1688. 

^ly  friends, 

GO  D  hath  made  you  witnefles  of  the  great  work 
of  this  day  ;  the  Lord  1  fay  hath  given  you  eyes 
to  fee,  and  ears  to  hear,  and  hearts  to  underftand 
the  Ereat  woik  of  the  dav  j  he  hath  called  you  forth,  that 
you  may  be  faithful  v/itnefTes  every  one  in  your  meafurc 
of  that  which  he  hath  brought  to  pafs  in  your  fight,  for 
he  hath  revealed  his  power,  the  eternal  power  by  which 
the  x^'orld  was  made,  he  hath  revealed  and  manifefted  that 
power  for  the  raifmg  up  of  life,  for  the  fubjecting  and 
bringing  under  death,  and  the  power  of  it;  for  a  great 
while  a  teftimony  that  hath  been  born  in  the  nation 
hath  been  unto  death;    he  that  hath  the  power  of  death^ 

that* 


Power  of  Sin  and  Satai^\  j^- 

that  is,  the  devil,  he  hath  had  a  great  many  t\  found  out 
his  power,  to  declare  the  continuance  of  it,  thaVdeath  muft 
reign,  and  darknefs  muft  continue,  and  that  th\  Icinedom 
of  the  man  of  fm  v/ill   never  be  brought  downA 

But   now  in   our  day,   glory  to    God   on  high\here  is 
another  found   come  forth,  the  Lord  Jehovah  hathVtcred 
his  voice,  and  who  can  but  prophecy !   The   word  o\  pj-Q^ 
phecy  is  given   of  God,   and  many  are  raifed  up  to\]b^^ 
lifh  it,   and  to  found  forth  the  name  of  the  Lord  in\e 
extirpation,   the  ruin  and   deftruc^ion,  that  is  and  fhall  V 
brought  upon  the  kingdom  of  iniquity,  upon  the  kingdom 
of  the  man  of  fin,  and  to  prophecy  and  declare  in  the  namey 
of  the  Lord,  that  righteoufnefs  fhall  run  down  like  aftream; 
this  is  the  gofpel,  the  glad  tidings  that  we  receive  from  God, 
and  minifter  unto  you,  that  you  might  believe,  and  that  be- 
lieving you  might  come  to  wait  upon  the  Lord,  and  behold 
the  accomplifhment  of  it. 

For,  my  friends,  herein  hath  conlifted  all  the  labour,  travel 
and  exercife,  of  the  fervants  of  the  Lord;  and  for  this  caufe 
have  we  fuffered  many  things,  and  gone  through  many  trials, 
becatife  ive  have  fledfaflly  bellevedy  and  therefore  have  we 
fpoken  it;  that  the  Lord  will,  by  his  Almighty  power,  lay 
wafte,  deftroy  and  bring  to  an  end,  that  power,  that  the 
wicked  one,  the  devil,  hath  had  upon  the  minds  and  fpirits 
of  the  fons  and  daughters  of  men,  and  that  he  will  fet  up 
and  eftablilli,  in  the  very  fame  foul,  a  law  of  righteoufnefs, 
and  a  lav/  of  truth,  and  will  caufe  the  beauty  of  holinefs 
to  fhine  forth  through  them,  where  iniquity  hath  lodged, 
where  the  wicked  one  hath  ruled. 

Now  you  that  have  believed  this  teftimony,  you  have 
received  it,  as  glad  tidings  unto  you,  for  you  are  weary 
of  that  old  fervice,  you  are  oppreiTed  under  the  power  of 
that  ftrange  prince.  There  was  a  kind  of  fpirit  and  power 
that  had  ruled  over  you,  that  neither  gave  you  life  nor  breath, 
nor  had  done  any  good  thing,  and  yet  you  were  fubjed  ; 
and  many  there  v/ere,  who  through  the  grace  of  God, 
came  to  fee  that  a  ftate  and  condition  of  fm  and  iniquity 
was  not  a  happy  (late;  and  by  a  fecret  kindling  of  the 
ffark  of  God's  love  in  your  fouls  ere  you  knew  him,  there 
was    a    cry  raifed  to  be    delivered,    if  it  be   pofllble.      If 

O  there 


io6  Truth's  Testi/aony  againft  the 

there  be  any  deliverance,  O  why  may  not  I  be  delivered  ? 
If  diere  be  any  redemption,  why  mav  not  I  be  redeemed ! 
Jf  there  be  a  power  that  can  fet  me  free  from  the  fervice 
of  this  wicked   one,   v/hy   may  not  I  be  fet  free  ? 

Ah,   friends  !    remember   the  days  and  nights   in  which 
thefe  living  cries  run  through  you,   then  ycu  ^^cere  poor  in- 
deed ;    then   you  were  humble  and  broken,   and  the   Lord 
beheld  vou  in  thc^e  da}s,  he  faw  your  ftate  and  condition, 
hw  faw  how  helpleis  voii  were,  and  did  not  he  arile  to  help 
somI    Did  not  a   pawer  .fpring  forth  in   the  day  of  vour 
iiumility,  in  the  day  of  tendetne'"s,  by  which  you  became 
able  CO  make  war  againft  the  lufts  of  vour  own  hearts,  and 
did  nor  you  overcome  and  prevail  in  your  war  ?   Did  rot 
you  make  a  progrei^s  by  the  power  and  by  the  grace  that  firft 
raifed  defires  in   you?  And  as  you  made  this  progrefs  and 
gained  ground,  as  I  may  fay,  of  your  own  corruptions,  your 
faith  came  to  be  ftrengthened,   and  vou  were  confirmed  in 
the  belief  and  in  the  obedience  of  the  truth ;  and  the  m.ore 
vou  trufled  and  relied  upon  him,  the  m.ore  did  he  m^anifeft 
nis  power  in  you  ;  he  made  known  his  ability  and  his  ftreneth 
in  vour  weaknefs,  io  that  you  did  become /rj/;;g- i:'i.V/f//lj-, 
eveiy  one  in  vour  meafure,  that  there  was  fuch  a  power ; 
and  that  tkat  po^'er  was  able  not  only  to  fave  from  a  little, 
or  from  a  few,  but  \('as  able  to  lave  to  the  uttermoft,  to  fave 
out  of  all  that  was  polluted  and  defiled,  and  to  clean! e  and 
purify  the  confcience  from  all  dead  works,   and  to  enable 
vou  to  ferve  -fthe  living  God. 

Now  the  Lord  having  thus  eftablifhed  you,  and  confirmed 
you  by  his  power,  that  you  were  found  in  the  faith ^  and 
tirmi  in  the  beHeving  of  the  tiutk^  m.v  friends,  all  the  labour, 
?.nd  travel  and  doftrine,  and  exercife  of  the  preachers  of 
the  go'. pel,  to  thofe  who  were  converted  and  confirmed,  be- 
came very  acceptable.  So  we  preach,  and  fo  you  believed  ; 
here  was  a  unitv  in  our  faith,  here  grew  up  a  fcliowThip,  a 
commiunion  in  the  faith,  and  the  Lord  became  glorified  in 
the  afTemiblies  not  only  of  thofe  that  preached,  but  of  thofe 
that  heard,  bccaufe  each  one  had  a  place  m  the  body,  and 
each  one  had  a  favour  of  the  word  of  life  by  which  the 
bodv  was  nourifhed. 

Now,  my  frienis,  tliat  which  lies  particularly  upon  me 

to 


FowER  of  Sin  and  Satan,  toy 

to  leave  with  you  for  my  teftimony  (and  I  pri^-  God  that 
it  ma)  be  placed  in  the  hearts  of  aH  }ou  that  hav^ believed) 
is,  that  you  niay  ail  wafit  upon   the  Lonrd,  to  (€k  all  that 
brought  to  paf$,wiiich  you  have  believed :  For  I  taW  notice 
by  the  eye  that  God  hath  opened  in' me,  by  which  W  hath 
made  me  to  take  care  of  his  flock,  and  fometimes  jwt  his 
y^ro\d  in  my  mouth,  that  I  may  ipeak  a  ward  in  <h.\Q  kAon  : 
I  lay,  by  this  eye,  I  take  rxotice  of  many  that  have  reeeVcd 
this  precious  faith,   and  thereby  have  beHeved  thegi^eat  ^d 
high  ftate ;  their  faith,  reached  fo'  far,  they  knew  that  power 
be  able  to  bring  them  into  a  perfed  dominion  ewer  their  hifts';. 
and  pafTions,   and  corruptions,    and  over  the   fpirit   of  the\ 
V/orld,  over  pride,  over  anger,  over  all  things  that  are  op-   \ 
pofite  .to  the  divine  life;  their  faith  is  as  lound  as  we  can      ^ 
preach  it  ii  re. pect  of  the  extent  of  it,  but  their  faith  hath 
not  readied  thus  far  in  its  operation  upon  their  hearts ;  they 
have  not  had  the  power  going  on>    to  accomplilh  and  fulhi 
that  which  remains. 

Are  there  not  fomehere  and  there  that  are  fettled  in  the  be- 
lief of  the  truth,  but  are  got  into  an  eafe^  from  the  labour 
of  the  truth  ?  But  if  I  be  found  in  the  faith,  my  under- 
ftanding  is  opened  j  I  do  not  only  beHeve  this  matter, 
but  have  inward  evidence  and  deraonftration,  that  I  am 
certain,  pait  all  doubt  and  queftion  of  it,  that  the  Lord 
reveals  his  power  in  them  that  believe,  that  purifies  them, 
and  makes  them  every  whit  clean  ;  and  here  I  have  a  fel- 
lowfhip  and  communion  with  them  that  preach,  and  them 
that  believe. 

But,,  my  friends,  all  this  will  not  give  you  communion 
with  God ;  though  there  is  communion  with  the  church  of 
God,  with  reiped  to  men,,  who  are  come  into  one  faith 
and  dofcine,  yet  for  fellowihip  with  God,  it  flands  in  a  life 
beyond  all  doclrines,  and  beyond  all  words  and  exprefiions  ; 
therefore  your  bufinefs  and  mine,  and  every  one's,  is  what  we 
undertook  when  our  faces  v/ere  firft  turned  to  God,  that  we 
may  be  followers  ofChrift  in  the  regeneration.  For  many- 
may  be  firm  in  point  of  dodrine,  and  yet  may  not  follow 
Chrift  Jefus :  Many  hold  the  truth,  but  do  not  hold  it  in 
righteoufnefs,  but  unrighteoufnefs. 

Now,  my  friends,  have  a  care,   your  religion  and  your 

fouls 


jo8  Truth's  Testimony  againfl  the 

fouls  eternal  welfare  are  concerned.  This  dodrine  I  leave 
you  in  charge  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  God :  Flatter  not 
yourfelves  any  one  of  you,  becauie  of  the  foundnefs  of 
your  belief,  but  look  for  loundnefs  of  heart,  and  for  a  right 
fpirit  ro  be  created  in  you,  a  fpirit  that  can  no  way  endure 
any  thing  that  the  light  of  Chrift  hath  made  manifeft  to  be 
evil  j  if  It  be  truth  you  own,  then  exercife  faith  upon  it, 
and  whatfoever  fm  or  temptation  affaults  you,  fay,  I  fhall 
overcome  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jehovah  ;  I  lliall  bring 
thee  under,  be  what  luft,  palTion,  or  corruption  foever 
thou  wilt,  in  the  name  of  the  Lord,  I  fliall  overcome  thee, 
and  bring  thee  under. 


Travel  on  in  the  faith  committed  to  you,  and  you  will  be 


names  are  written  in  Heaven ;  and  your  communion  will 
not  be  in  words  and  dodrines,  and  principles  of  faith  ',  but 
y^our  comxmunion  w-Il  be  with  God  the  Father,  and  his  Son 
J  el  us  Chnft  ;  and  fo  in  all  your  meetings  together,  the  joy 
of  the  Lord  will  be  your  ftrength,  and  the  joy  of  his  great 
fahation  your  covering,  and  he  will  maniR^ft  his  gracious 
prefence  with  you  j  and  that  power  which  hath  kept  you 
to  this  day  from  your  childhood,  and  prcferved  you  in 
aJl  your  battles  and  conflids  with  the  world,  and  ftrength- 
ened  and  encouraged  you  when  you  went  fometimes  for- 
rowing  and  mourning  night  and  day,  and  fearing  left  you 
fhould  not  overcome  your  adverfaries  ;  that  power  that 
hath  kept  you  hitherto,  will  do  greater  things  for  you  than 
you  have  yet  been  witneifes  of. 

Therefore,  dear  friends,  this  I  would  leave  with  you, 
there  is  nothing  will  keep  you  and  me  in  that  little  time 
that  remains  to  us  here  to  fpend  on  earth,  biit  that  which 
v/ill  keep  us  in  the  exercife  of  faith  towards  God,  and  his 
Son  Jems  Chrift,  who  is  able  to  fave  us  to  the  uttermcji  : 
Let  us  \y/ait  to  fee  the  power  of  God  for  fanctrfi cation 
and  holinefs  ;  that  will  reach  as  far  as  faving  us  from  our 
fins, 

This  hath  been  the  greateft  reproach  that  ever  our  ad^ 
verfari^'S  have  thrown  upon  us,  that  there  arc  fome  amongil: 

us 


Power  of  Sin  and  Satan,  Sec.  lo^ 

us  that  talk  of  believing  in  the  power  of  God,  and  talk 
of  an  ability  to  overcome  their  fins,  and  living  a  holy 
life,  and  living  without  fin,  while  they  themfelves  live  in 
it.  This  is  the  greateft  reproach  that  ever  our  adverfaries 
have  thrown  upon  us  :  Whofoever  have  been  the  caufe  of" 
this  reproach,  God  will  require  it  of  them,  for  the  Lord 
is  jealous  of  his  name  and  glory  ;  and  he  will  have  the 
praife  and  honour  that  is  due  tp  his  great  name,  for  work- 
ing in  us  both  to  ivill  and  to  do  of  his  good  pleafure,  faith 
the  apoftle  ;  tho'  I  know  nothing  of  myielf,  yet  am  I  not 
hereby  juftified.  When  you  come  to  that,  that  you  can- 
not charge  yourfelves,  then  the  Lord  will  not  charge  you  ; 
but  take  heed  that  therein  you  place  not  your  juftification, 
hereby  you  are  not  juftified. 

Therefore  have  an  eye  to  Jefus,  the  author  and  finifhsr 
of  our  faith.     He  begins  the   work  of  faith,    and   he  will 
carry  it  on  until  he  be  the  finifher  of  it,    and  the  juftifier 
of  it  ;    he  is   the   Mediator  of  the   New   Covenant,    that 
alone  juftifies  the  children  of  God.     Depend  not  upon  your 
own  holinefs   and  righteoufnefs  for  juftitication  ;  keep  your 
eyes  to  Jeftis  the  author  of  your  faith,  who  will  be  alfo 
the  finifher  of  it  ;  keep  your  hearts  with  all  diligence,  and 
walk  humbly  with  God,  watching  left  your  adverfary  that 
yoli  have  overcome,  prevail  againft  you.     By  going  from 
the  power,  there  is  no  fafety  for  the  flock,  but  only  while 
they   keep   in   the   fhepherd's    fold  y    be   faithful  and   keep 
yourfelves   in  the  love   of  God,    and  he    will   be   prefect 
with  you,  and  keep  you  to  be  his  witnefTes  to  the  end  of 
your  days,  and  will  raife  up  another  generation  to  be  wit- 
neffes  to  his  power,  when  he  hath  taken  you  to  himfelf.  , 
To  that  mighty  power  of  God  I  commit  you,  for  pre- 
ferving  you  in  humility  of  mind  and  foul  ;  and  my  prayer 
for  you  (hall  be,  that  you  may   go  on,  and  make  a  pro-r 
grefs  in  the  good  ways   of  the  Lord,    until  his  work  be^ 
finifhed  in   you. 


H 


His  Prayer  after  Sermon. 

0  LY   and  powerful  God  of  Life  I  who  art  the   Cre^ 
ator  of  us  all  j  in  whom  we  live,  and  move,  and  have 

our 


11(5  His  Prayer  after  Sermon. 

our  being  ;  thou  hafl  made  us  ail  for  the  purp.ofe  of  thy  prarfi 
and  gicfjy  that  ive  might  ferve  thee  in  the  land  of  the  ltvif2g^ 
among  the  fons  and  daughters  Qf'j}ien:.yandnotonlyfo.y  but 
thou  haft  given  us  thy  Holy  Spirit^  as  thou  didft  to  the  people 
of  old, 

O  living  God  of  Life  I  thou  haft  ordained  a  remnant  to 
give  up  then f elves  to  be  led  by  it ;  thou  r  e  gar  deft  them  ^  and 
art  with  them,  and  they  enjoy  from  tvm  tO' time  thy  k.oly  pre* 
fence,  vjhich  makes  glad  thetr  folds  ;  and  they  have  fellouftip 
and  co?nmunio?ivjith  thee,  and  thy  Son,  through  thy  Spirit,  by 
which  they  are  quickened  to  offer  up  pure  and  living  praifei 
up 071  thine  altar,    '  -  . 

O  living  God  ef  hove  and  Life  /  thou  haft  ftied  abroad  thy 
love  upon  their  hearts,  by  which  they  are  enabled  to  pray  for 
enemies,  that  they  tn ay  cotne  to  erpyfaivatian,  and  the  pi ea- 
fures  which  are  at  thy  right  hand,  vohteh  are  infi?ittely  better 
than  all  the  pleafures  of  this  vaitu  rvorld,  •;■   '{l\v.'> 

Holy  and  poiirerful  Father  1  have  refpeU  to  all  our  fouls;;,. and 
touch  all  mir  kea-ris  with  a  fenfe  of  thy  divine  lovCy  that  we 
may  feel  the  cords  of  thy  Jove- drawing  aur  fouls  nearer  to-  thy f elf ^ 
and  affiiring  ns.  that  than  kaft  a  grojcious  purpofe  to.  farce  us 4 
O  powerful  Gad  of  Life  1   fhew  forth  thy  power,  that  out 
hearts  may  be  touched  and  quickeried  thereby,   to  come  to  fear 
thee,    and  reverence  thy.  name,    mid   he  acquainted  with  thy 
operation  iit  our.  own  hearts,    that  they   may  be  humbled  and 
broken    before    thee,     and    bovj   down    and    worfhtp^  in    ftn-r 
cerity    and  uprightnefs  :      Thai  fo    holy    God   of  Life!    if 
it  be   thy  pleafure,     none  m.ay    depart    out    of  this    affembly 
without  feme  fenfe   of  thy   love^  and  feeling  of  the .  powerful 
drawings  of  thy  grace,  and  witham   being  raifed  up  to  pu^ 
rity  of  heart,  and  convinced  cf  the-  evil  of  everything  that  is 
contrary  to  thee,  and  ferve  thee  in  holinefs  and  righteoufnefs^ 
and  purfue   it   with  all  their   hearts,    and  minds,    and  foul, 
and  ftrength,    that   then  mayefl   have  mercy  upon  them,    and 
pardon  their  iniquity,  and  love  them  freely,  for  fa  thou  haft 
ordained  in    thy    Son  Jefus   Chrift,    that  we  m.ay  receive  re- 
mijftcn  of  fins  through  the   belief  of  thy  everlafting  truth, 

'And  holy,  pcAverful,  God  of  Life  I  that  all  thy  people 
may  partake  of  holi-nefs  and'  fobriety,  to  the  praife  of  thy 
name,    and  that  they   may  all  come  ta  obtain  a  viCiory  over 

all 


Bearing  the  Cross  of  Christ^  5dc.  m 

all  thofe  fpiritual  enemies  that  war  againji  their  fouls ^  that 
thy  holy  work  of  redemption  and  regeneration  may  be  carried 
on  J  to  the  praife  of  thy  grace,  and  the  exaltation  of  thy  holy 
name^  to  whom  praife,  honour y  and  wifdom  belong ,  and  pure 
and  humble  thankfgivtngs  ;  and  unto  thee,  the  living  God  of 
Life,  we  defire  to  offer  up  our  praifes  and  adorations,  for 
thou  alone  art  worthy  ;  who  art  God  over  all,  bleffed  forever 
and  eier.     Amen. 

SERMON      X. 

Bearing  the  Cross  of  Christ,   the  true 
Mark  vf  a  Christian. 

Preached   at    Devonshire-House,     OEhober   12,    i6go, 

E  that  knoweth  the  day  of  the  Lord,  and  the  (Iretch- 
ing  forth  of  his  arm,  is  quickened  to  feel  the  power 
that  is  in   Chrift  Jefus,  the   Head   of  the   Church  ; 
that  fo  he  may  be  enabled,  through  his  pov/er,  to  bring  forth 
fruit  unto   God.     The   eye  of  the  Lord  is  upon   you  ail, 
and  he  expeds  at  the  hand  of  every  one,  that  they  bring  forth 
fruit  unto  God,  tliat  according  to  the  aboundings  of  his  mer- 
cy towards  you,  and  of  his  patience  and  long-lufrering  con- 
cerning yoUj  there  might  at  laft  be  an  anfv/er  in  the  foul  of 
every   one,   unto  the  mercv  and  goodnefs  of  God.     They 
that  do  not  know  and  experience  this,  that  the  long- faff ering 
and  patience  of  God   leadeth  unto  repentance,  they  know 
no  part  of  Chriftianity ;  let  them  make  their  profeffion  ever 
fo  high,  and  proclaim  their  notions  ever  fo  loud,    they  that 
know  not  the  work  of  repentance  in   their  hearts,  as  yet, 
need  to  learn  the  firft  principle  of  the    Chriftian  religion. 
You  know  it  hath  been  the  cuftom  of  people  to  learn  their 
children    principles,  and  they  that  have  learned  their  prin- 
ciples, they  go  for  Chriftians,  whether  they  repent  or  no  j 
though  they  go  on  in  fin  and  iniquity  all  their  days,  yet  they 
go  under  the  reputation  of  Chriftians  j  and  it  is  high  time 
to  examine  and  find  out  (if  you  can)  a  reafon  for  this,  that  a 
man  iliall  be  accounted  a  Chriitian  upon  any  other  terms 

now 


1X2  Bearing  the  Cross  of  Christ, 

now  in  this  age,  than  the  Lord  Chrift  did  preach  and 
publiili  in  the  days  of  his  flefh;  for 'he  did  abfolutely 
deny  that  any  man  could  be  his  difciple,  without  taking 
up  a  daily  crofs,  and  without  felf-denial  :  Now  how  fhould 
a  man  at  this  day  be  a  Chriftian,  or  a  difciple  of  Chrift, 
without  taking  up  a  daily  crofs,   and  v/ithout  felf-denial  ? 

It  may  be  fome  will  tell  you,  that  they  are  baptized  into 
the  Chriftian  faith,  and  have  been  taught,  and  have  made  a 
prc)feftion  of  Chriftian  principles,  and  aflbciated  themfelves 
among  thole  that  make  profeffion  of  Chrift  ;  but  here  is 
not  a  word  of  a  daily  crofs  in  all  this,  nor  of  felf-denial ; 
fo  that  they  would  have  you  to  underftand  in  this,  that  the 
terms  of  Chriftianity  arc  changed,  and  that  men  may  be 
Chriftians  without  the  terms  of  Chrift,  or  at  leaft  reputed  fo. 

And  this  hath  been  occafioned  by  the  great  apoftacy 
that  hath  been  brought  into  the  church  by  a  long  night 
of  darknefs,  and  the  revealing  of  Antichrift.  Antichrift 
hath  been  difcovered  and  revealed,  and  hath  fet  up,  in 
defpite  of  Chriftianity,  a  falfe  Chriftianity  ;  and,  there  came 
in  the  terms  of  a  man's  being  accepted,  and  being  reputed 
a  Chriftian  upon  Antichrift 's  terms:  And  if  you  will  con- 
form to  do  thus,  and  fay  fo,  you  ftiall  be  admitted  into 
the  Chriftian  Society.  Now  all  thefe  terms  of  Antichrift, 
have  been  fuch  things  as  an  unregenerate  man  could  con- 
form to  and  comply  with. 

And  the  opening  of  this  door,  hath  let  into  the  church 
abundance  of  hypocrites  and  evil-doers,  who  were  in  too 
unregenerate  a  ftate  to  conform  to  thofe  things  that  were 
required  ;  for  in  the  public  fociety  of  Chriftians,  it  was 
not  faid,  you  muft  be  regenerate,  and  take  up  a  daily 
crofs,  and  deny  yourfelves,  and  walk  as  becometh  faints, 
and  fo  behave  yourfelves  that  God  may  be  glorified,  and 
the  profeftion  of  Chriftianity  honoured  by  you.  Thefe 
were^  the  terms  of  old  ;  but  there  are  other  terms  of 
being  Chriftians,  which  are  of  a  later  date. 

Now  this  apoftacy  hath  prevailed  and  fpread  over  whole 
nations  and  countries,  not  a  fev/,  fo  that  whole  kingdoms 
have  become  Chriftians  upon  thefe  latter  terms,  and  God 
is  greatly  diihonoured  among  us,  and  Chrift  the  Holy 
One  moft  horribly  prophaned.    It  is  not  fo  common  among 

Heathens 


the  true  MARK  of  a  Christian,  ii^ 

Heathens  and  infidels,  to  find  people  wronging  and  deceiv- 
ing one  another,  and  killing  and  deftroying  one  another; 
and  yet  it  is  the  practice  of  many  that  are  called  Chrifti- 
ans  :  Thefe  are  the  fruits  and  efFeds  of  thofe  latter  times 
of  Chriftianity.  Now  feeing  it  is  thus,  which  no  mortal 
man  can  deny,  I  have  this  queftion  to  ask,  and  I  defire 
that  you  would  ferioufly  weigh  it  in  your  hearts  and  fouls, 
both  while  you  are  together,  and  when  you  are  feparate 
one  from  another,  whether  it  is  not  high  time  for  all  of 
us  to  return  again  to  the  firft  terms  of  Chriftianity,  and 
to  reckon  no  man  a  Chriftian,  let  him  profefs  #&t  he 
will,  faving  fuch  a  one  as  doth  know  and  witnefs^,  that 
the  long-fufFering,  and  patience,  and  goodnefs  of  God, 
doth  lead  him  to  repentance  5  and  faving  fuch  a  one  as 
hath  fo  much  faith  towards  God,  that  for  love  to  God 
he  will  deny  himfelf,  and  take  up  his  crofs,  and  be  a 
follower  of  Jefus  in  that   way  and  life  he  lived  in. 

It  is  high  time  for  ail  of  us  to  return  again  to  the  terms 
of  Chriftianity,  that  were  fet  up  by  a  higher  authority 
than  ever  Antichrift  had,  and  before  Antichrift  was  re- 
vealed ;  for  tho'  it  is  true  that  Antichrift  hath  obtained 
power  on  earth,  to  eftablilli  his  fort  of  Chriftianity,  that 
is,  without  the  crofs,  and  a  fort  of  religion  whereby 
they  indulge  themfelves  in  whatfoever  pleafeth  their  car- 
nal hearts,  and  corrupt  minds  ;  yet  Antichrift  hath  not  all 
power,  he  is  not  Almighty  ;  I  hope  neither  Antichrift,  nor  the 
beaPc,  nor  the  dragon,  nor  the  falfe  prophet,  nor  the  whore, 
have  all  power  on  earth,  though  they  have  a  great  deal, 
and  by  that  power  they  have  eftablifhed  laws,  decrees,  ca- 
nons, and  innumerable  things  about  religion  j  and  fome 
cry,  this  is  the  way  you  muft  walk  in  ;  others  cry,  the 
way  to  Heaven  lies  here,  and  here  you  muft  travel  if  you 
will  come  thither  :  Some  cry,  this  is  truth  j  others  fay, 
it  is  error  :  So  that  the  world  is  divided  ;  Antichrift 's  go- 
vernment in  the  world  is  divided  ;  and  when  the  Iwufe  ts 
divided  againft  itfelf,  there  is  hopes  that  it  will  fall  at 
laft. 

But  there  is  one,  to  v/hom  all  power  in  Heaven  and 
Earth  is  given  and  committed  ;  and  his  Chriftians  are  not 
divided  among  themfelves,  but  they  are  of  one  heart,  and 

P  of 


11^  Bearing  the  Cross  of  ChrjsTj 

of  one  mind  ;  and  he  that  hath  all  power  in  Heaven  and 
Earth  committed  to  him.^  can  crufh  and  bruife  that  power 
that  ethers  have.  Herod  had  fome,  and  Pilate  had  fomie ; 
but  faith  Chrift,  your  poiver  is  Uniited,  this  is  your  honry 
a'fid  the  poiver  of  darknefs  ;  and  thou  hadji  not  had  poiv- 
er,  faith  Chriil:  to  Pihjte,  were  it  not  glve?2  thee  frojn  above; 
here  is  power  given  to  the  dragon,  to  the  falfe  prophet, 
and  the  beall,  to  fpeak  great  things  ;  but  this  power  of 
Antichrift  is  going  away  ;  Chnft  Jefus  was  fent  into  the 
world  in  his  day,  to  bring  people  back  again  to  God,  and 
to  primxitive  Chriftianity  and  obedience,  and  to  the  firft 
terms  of  fociety  and  communion,  and  to  a  fellowlhip  in 
Chrift  Jefus   through   the  Holy   Ghoft. 

Now  if  we  had  fet  up  a  way  of  religion,  as  other  folks 
have  done,  which  \s  contained  in  fome  canons,  articles, 
dodrines,  and  fuch  and  tuch  commandments  of  men  ;  and 
if  men  will  confefs  thcHs  articles,  and  obfc/ve  thefe  ca- 
nons, they  (hall  be  of  our  fociety  ',  then  we  fhould  have 
done  like  the  reft  of  the  fallen  Chriftians  ;  but  we  have  de- 
clared from,  the  beginning,  that  profeffing  our  dodrine, 
and  the  principles  of  rehgion,  doth  not  give  any  man  fel- 
lowiliip  and  communion  with  us  ',  but  our  communion  i$ 
in  the  felf-dcnying  life,  and  a  daily  crofs,  in  oppofition 
to  fenuial  luft,  vanity,  pride  and  bitternefs  of  fpirit,  cor- 
ruption, enmity  and  wrath  ',  this  hath  brought  us  to  a  holy 
feliov/ihip  and  comm-union  in  the  Holy  Ghoft,  and  to  live 
in  unity  from  one  head,  which  is  Jefus  Chrift  j  fo  that 
there  is  not  tliis  m.an's  church,  and  the  other  man's  churcH 
among  the   people  of  God. 

Do  you  read  in  the  primitive  times,  that  Paul  had  his 
church,  and  Peter  his  church,  and  James  his  church,  and 
Jude  his  church  ?  Indeed  they  had  their  mteetings  as  we 
have  now,  in  many  cities  and  countries  am^ong  the  Jews 
and  Gentiles  ;  but  thefe  holy  apoUles  that  were  the  firft 
publiCiers  of  the  everlafting  gofpel,  after  their  great  Lord 
and  Mafter,  Jefus  Chrift,  they  never  did  appropriate  any 
church  to  thcmlelves,  that  was  not  their  bufinefs  j  but  our 
work  and  bufinefs,  faith  the  apoftle,  is  to  gather  you  to 
Chrift,  and  frefent  ycu  as  a  chojze  "cirgin  to  Chrift  ;  our 
work  is,  to  turn  you  from  darknefs  tc  Ught^  that  you  may 

walk 


the  true  Mark  of  a  Christian.  115 

walk  in  it,  and  be  the  children  of  it  ;  our  work  is,  to 
build  you  up  as  a  fplrltual  houfe^  to  be  prefented  to  Cnrijl 
the  Mediator. 

This  is  primitive  Chriftianity  that  hath  its  foundation  in 
holinefs  and  righteoufnefs,  fincerity  and  tiuth,  not  in  words, 
and  terms,  and  articles,  and  canons,  and  decrees,  and  other 
obfervancesj  this  is  not  the  foundation  of  true  Chrifrianity, 
nor  will  it  ever  be,  the  devil's  kingdom  mud  be  deftroyed, 
it  is  (baking,  for  he  in  whom  we  believe,  hath  power  from 
his  Father  to  break  the  devil's  head,  Antichrift  and  the 
dragon's  head.  Chrift  Jefus  is  fignilied  by  divers  names, 
the  fecond  Adam,  Lord  from  Heaven^  the  ll'^ay,  the  Truthy 
and  the  Lrfey  but  he  is  the  fame  Chrift ;  fo  Antichrift  is 
expreffed  by  feveral  terms  and  names,  but  he  is  the  fame 
power  of  darknefs,  he  hath  made  the  nations  drunk,  to  dag- 
ger and  deftroy,  and  devour  one  another. 

This  hath  been  done  in  the  fallen  ftate  of  Chriftians,  and 
the  defign  which  the  Lord  Chrift  hath  in  fending  his  minifters 
and  workmen  to  labour  among  you,  is  to  reftore  men  to  the 
firft  Chriftianity,  and  to  bring  men  to  God ;  that  religion 
is  not  made  up  of  dodrines,  articles,  canons  and  decrees 
of  men,  but  it  hath  the  word  of  God  for  its  foundation  j  ke 
that  hath  an  ear  to  hear^  let  him  hear  :  There  is  fome 
fpirit,  and  power,  and  vifible  work  in  a  true  Chriftian,  which 
the  falfe  Chriftian  never  had.  The  falfe  Chriftians  have  taken 
the  name  and  profeflion  of  Chrift,  and  their  fruits  have  been 
diihonourable  to  him ;  they  might  as  well  make  profeflion 
of  Antichrift  and  fatan,  they  have  a  form  of  godlinefs,  they^ 
have  fome  of  the  word,  but  they  deny  the  power.  "V^hat  is 
their  religion  and  outward  profeflion,  when  they  want  the 
internal  life,  and  the  motions  of  the  Holy  Spirit  ;  if  they 
bring  forth  the  curfed  fruits  of  the  flefli,  enmity,  wrath,  km 
and  corruption,  which  belong  to  the  fallen  nature  and  unre- 
generate  ilate  ? 

The  apoftle  takes  notice  of  this  deceit  and  hypocrify  in 
religion,  which  Was  growing  up  before  he  died^  men  having 
a  form  of  godlinefs,  and  denying  the  power  thereof  from, 
fuch  turn  away.  If  there  be  any  brethren  that  ivalk  dif- 
orderly,  have  no  company  or  felloivfnip  with  them,  if  you 
would  have  the  holy  name  of  Jefus  free  from  fcandai. 

This- 


jiS^  Bearing  the  Cross  of  Christ, 

This  hath  been  the  deiiga  of  all  the  faithful  minifters  of 
Chrift,  to  keep  their  holy  profeffion  of  the  name  of  Chrift 
free  from  reproach;  that  the  holinefs  of  God's  ways  might 
be  feen  in  the  holy  lives  of  the  profcflors  of  them.  Till 
men  come  to  know  this,  and  take  up  their  daily  crofs,  and 
exerci'e  lelf-denial,  their  Chriftianity  is  good  for  nothing; 
I  would  not  have  you  trufl:  in  it  ;  neither  in  articles,  tenets, 
or  obfervations ;  but  fee  how  with  your  lives  you  anfwef' 
your  profefiion  :  Chrift  was  holy,  hanrlefs,  undefihdy  fepa- 
ra-is  from  fetrners.  And  why  fhould  not  Chriftians  be  fo 
too?  How  can  Chriftians  be  followers  of  Chrift,  and  not 
feparate  from  fmners  ?  Chrift  v/as  fo.  He  went  one  way, 
and  fmners  went  another ;  they  followed  their  fins  and  lufts, 
but  lie  followed  the  work  his  heavenly  father  fent  him  about. 
If  thou  art  a  follower  of  Chrift,  thou  art  worthy  of  the 
name  of  a  Chriftian.  Do  drunkards  and  fwearers  follow 
Chrift?  Do  the  wanton  and  proud  follow  him?  Do  the  un- 
clean and  hypocrites  follow  him  ?  you  know  they  do  not, 
why  do  you  call  them  Chriftians  ?  This  is  a  reproach  and 
ihame  to  the  holy  name  of  Jeius,  and  to  true  Chriftianity, 
that  any  of  thefe  folks  lliould  be  called  Chriftians,  but  fuch 
as  are  follov/ers  of  Chrift,  who  are  holy^  harmkfs  and  unde- 
filed,  and  feparate  frofn  fmners » 

This  feems  a  ftrange  kind  of  doclrine,  yet  if  it  had  been 
preached  in  the  primitive  time,  there  were  people  that  would 
have  received  it  as  apoftohcal  dodrine,  that  a  man  fhould 
crucify  the  flefh  with  the  affeclions  and  lufts :  For  faith  the 
apoftie,  mortify  your  members  which  are  on  earth;  if  you, 
through  the  fprrit,  do  mortify  the  deeds  of  the  body,  ye  flail 
Ih'e ;  hut  if  ye  live  after  the  flefl,,  ye  fliall  die.  And  to  be 
carnally  minded  is  death,  but  to  be  fpiritually  minded  is  life 
and  peace.     This  was  found  dod-'rine  then. 

Noxx/  come  and  tell  a  man  he  fhall  certainly  perifh  and 
come  to  damnation  for  all  his  profefllon,  if  he  does  not  mor- 
tify the  deeds  of  the  fiefh ;  if  he  lives  in  ftn  and  dies  in  it,  he 
is  like  to  perifh  :  How  many  have  been  hauled  to  gaols  and 
dungeons,  only  for  preaching  this  dodrine,  and  when  we 
were  lirft  fent  to  preach,  we  durft  not  do  otherwife  ?  And 
God  did  not  fend  us  to.  preach  till  he  had  waflied  us,  and 
lancdiied  us,   and  fitted  us  for   the  work  of  the  miniftry. 

Now 


the  true  Mark  of  a  CuRiSTiAK.  uy 

No>37  when  we  faw  in  the  holy  fcriptures,  that  God  did 
work  upon  others  by  his  Spirit,  before  he  fent  them  to 
preach  the  gofpel,  was  not  here  fufficient  authority  given 
to  preach  the  downfal  of  fin,  and  deftrudion  of  it  ?  One 
would  think  that  fuch  a  one,  thus  called  and  fent  of  God, 
had  as  good  authority  to  preach  the  everlafting  gofpel,  as 
the  laws  enaded  by  all  the  prijices  of  the  world  could  give 
him  ;  a  man  fure  that  hath  an  authority  for  preaching  the 
gofpel,  would  not  need  to  wait  for  orders  and  approbation  ; 
he  would  not  fcay  for  an  indudion.  The  apoftie  Paul  took 
it  for  a  commiflion  that  was  creditable,  when  he  tells  you  of 
his  miflion,  it  was  not  by  man^  but  by  the  will  of  God,  that 
he  was  called  to  preach  the  gofpel.  If  we  fhould  fay  we 
were  made  preachers,  if  you  ask  by  whom,  not  any  man  in 
the  world  can  tell  you  ;  but  we  were  made  preachers  many 
years  ago  :  Not  by  man,  or  by  the  authority  of  man,  but 
by  the  will  of  God.  V^hat  was  your  commiflion  ?  to  turn 
men  from  darknefs  (that  darknefs  we  had  formerly  lived  in) 
to  turn  them  from  darknefs  unto  light ^  and  fro7n  the  power  of 
Satan  unto  God.  The  apoftie  funis  up  his  commiflion  in  a 
few  Vv^ords  ;  the  Lord  told  me  I  tn^fi  turn  7nen  from  darknefs 
to  Ught,  This  is  our  commiflion  that  we  have  received  from 
God  in  this  age,  to  turn  men  from  darknefs. 

But  fome  will  fay,  that  we  have  not  human  learning  and 
qualifications  for  the  work  of  the  miniftry :  To  this  I  an- 
fv/er,  if  I  heard  a  man  (wear  or  tell  a  lie,  I  could  tell  him 
that  this  was  not  of  God,  I  have  learning"  enough  to  know, 
and  tell  men  that,  and  fay,  whoring,  drunkennefs,  and 
fwearing,  and  lying,  were  works  of  the  flefli,  and  fruits  of 
the  devil's  power  ',  I  would  have  you  turn  from  thefe  works 
to  the  power  of  God.  X*^^hat  is  that  power  of  God  ?  I  will 
tell  you,  it  is  a  manifeftation  of  grace  in  your  hearts,  that 
will  draw  you  away  from  the  love  of  all  thefe  things; 
the  grace  of  God,  is  the  power  of  God  to  falvation  to  them 
that  believe :  To  as  many  as  received  Chrift,  to  them  he  gave 
poiver  to  become  the  fons  of  God ;  to  fuch  as  believed  in 
his  name.  Such  Chriftians  will  ihew  forth  the  power  and 
life  of  religion  in  their  converfations :  So  that  here  is  a  fuf- 
ficient authority,  no  want  of  authority. 

I  have  been  fometimes  examined  by   what  authority  do 

you 


1x8  Beaming  the  Cross  of  Christ, 

you  preach  ?  By  the  highefl:  authority  in  Heaven  and  CArth, 
by  the  authority  of  God  that  came  by  Chrifl,  the  Redeemer. 
What  do  you  preach  ?  Truth  in  the  inward  parts,  grace 
and  truth,  and  againO:  all  fiithinefs  of  fleih  and  fpirit. 

As  long  as  Antichrift  hath  a  rule,  you  muft  not  preach 
down  fm  without  authority  j  you  muft  have  power,  you 
muft  be  ordained,  and  have  an  indudion  before  you  under- 
take to  preach  the  go'^pel,  and  preach  down  fin  and  wicked- 
rief-^  :  The  devil  hath  got  fuch  power  and  rule,  that  fome 
tell  us,  that  no  man  can  live  without  fin  ;  if  it  pleafe  God 
here  and  there  to  rai^e  a  man  and  bting  him  to  a  holy  and 
righteous  life,  this  man  wants  a  patent,  a  commiftlon,  an 
indudion,  an  ordinance  to  preach  and  cry  down  fin  in  other 
folks  ;  what  commiftion  had  the  Plalmift  when  he  faid, 
Co/nCy  all  ye  that  fear  the  Lord,  and  I  ivill  tell  you  vchat  he 
hath  do72e  for  my  foul. 

Is  it  not  high  time  for  pe3p!e  that  have  evidences  of  the 
love  of  God  ihed  abroad  upon  their  hearts  by  the  Holy 
Ghoft,  to  bear  their  teftimony  againft  ftn  and  wickednefs  ? 
Is  it  not  high  time  for  every  one's  mouth  to  be  open,  to 
teftify  againft  fuch  a  horrible  mift  of  darknefs  that  is  come 
over  men  ;  to  teftify  againft  hypocrily,  uncleannefs,  and 
unrighteournefs  ? 

It  was  the  great  defign  of  the  primitive  preachers  of  the 
gofpel,  to  cry  down  that  which  fome  minifters  cry  up,  fo 
that  Chriftianity  is  not  like  what  it  was,  for  then  they  told 
them  that  there  was  no  happinefs  but  by  breaking  off  from 
fm  by  repentance.  No  poiTibility  of  falvation  without  con- 
feiTmg  and  forfaking  fin,  and  trufting  in  the  mercy  of  God 
through  Chrift  for  the  pardon  of  it.  Tell  them  of  the  mer- 
cy of  God,  and  the  blood  of  Chrift,  they  will  tell  you  that 
they  cannot  be  cleanfed  from  all  fin,  they  cannot  live  with- 
out fin.  How  comes  it  to  pafs  that  there  are  minifters  that 
preach  an  impoftibility  of  living  without  fin,  when  we  are 
aiTured  in  the  holy  fcriptures,  that  without  holinefs  no  man 
fnall  ever  fee  the  Lord  ?  And  that  there  fi all  in  no  ivife  e'ater 
into  the  kingdom  of  God,  any  thing  that  defileth,  neither 
luhatjoever  \iorketh  abomination,  or  niaketh  a  lie  ?  Rev.  xxi. 
27.  How  com.es  this,  that  minifters  preach  an  impoflibihty 
of  living  without  iin  ?  Will  any  of  you,  faith  he,  be  fo  pre- 

fumptuous 


the  true  Mark  of  a  Christian.  119 

fumptuous  as  to  fay  a  man  may  live  without  fin  ?  I  will 
prove  it  from  good  authority,  both  from  fcripture  and  the 
fathers,  that  no  man  in  the  world  can  do  it. 

If  any  fet  themfelves  to  it  in  their  own  ftrength,  the  de- 
vil will  make  fools  of  them  ;  fome  indeed  have  gone 
about  it  in  their  own  power  and  will,  and  have  cloiftered 
themfelves  up  in  monafteries,  and  ihut  them'^elves  up  be- 
tween two  wails,  that  they  might  be  feparated  from  ail  fo- 
ciety,  and  live  without  fin  ;  they  would  do  it  in  their 
own  power,  and  the  devil  is  flronger  than   they. 

Let  me  tell  you,  men  of  the  greateft  wifdom,  courage 
and  ftrength,  of  the  raoft  excellent  natural  parts  that  any 
man  can  have,  are  not  able  to  grapple  with  their  enemy 
the  devil  by  their  own  power  ;  there  are  ieeds  of  fm,  and 
luft,  and  concupifcence  fown  in  all  their  hearts  ;  fo  far  this 
is  right  and  found  doclrine,  that  no  man  can  do  any  thing 
in  his  own  power  and  ftrength  .  But  here  is  the  miftake ; 
a  man  hath  been  a  long  tim.e  wreftling  with  his  fins  and 
lufts,  to  get  the  vidory  over  them  ;  but  by  wofui  expe- 
rience he  finds  his  weaknefs  and  infufticiency  ;  he  is  lunk 
in  his  harnefs,  and  fo  hath  given  over  the  battle,  laying, 
I  ihall  never  overcome  the  devil  and  his  temptations,  my 
fins  and  lufts  are  too  hard  for  me,  I  defpair  of  ever  over- 
coming them  in  my  own  ftrength,  by  all  that  I  can  do  ; 
that  is  true  enough,  but  muft  thou  needs  periili  becaufe 
thou  canft  never  overcome  thy  corruptions  ?  If  ever  I  be 
faved,  it  muft  be  the  free  grace  of  God,  that  muft  fave 
me.  How  canft  thou  com.e  to  lay  hold  of  the  free  grace 
of  God  ?  I  am  told  I  muft  lay  hold  on  Chrift  by  faith, 
who  is  the  Mediator  between  God  and  man,  and  is  my 
only  Redeemer  ;  there  is  no  falvation  in  any  other  :  This 
is  very  well  ;  now  thou  art  a  believer,  what  doft  thou  ex- 
ped,  what  doft  thou  hope  that  Chrift  will  give  thee  ?  H<5 
will  not  give  me  power  over  my  corruptions,  fo  as  to 
live  without  ftn,  that  is  more  than  I  hope  for  ;  but  I  ex- 
ped  that  Chrift  will  reveal  his  power  in  me,  and  give  me 
lo  much  ftrength  and  power  againft  my  lufts  and  corrup- 
tions, that  they  may  not  have  dominion  over  me  :  Now 
if  you  tell  me  that  you  hope  for  ftrength  and  power  from 
Chrift  againft  fin,  fatan  and  corruption,  do  you  now  tell 

me 


120  Bearing  the  Cross  of  Christ^ 

me  that  it  is  ftill  impoilible  ?  It  was  impolTible  before  in- 
deed to  live  without  fm,  when  thou  didft  truft  in  thine 
own  ftrength  ;  but  now,  when  thou  comeft  to  have  grace 
and  aiTiftance  from  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  the  Son  of  God, 
a:ad  Saviour  of  the  ivorM,  that  giveth  thee  abiHty  to  with- 
ftand  temptation,  and  overcome  thy  corruptions,  and  the 
luils  of  thy  own  heart,  is  it  impoftible  ftill  to  Hve  with- 
out fin  ?  Then  thou  may  eft  fay,  the  devil's  flave  I  am 
and  muft  be  ;  for  there  is  no  other  power  in  Heaven  or 
earth  for  thee  to  lay  hold  of,  if  thine  own  power,  nor 
Chrift's  power  neither  can  do  ;  then  thou  dofi:  fay,  that 
the  devil  is  Almighty.  Thus  they  tell  us,  when  Chrift 
hath  revealed  his  power,  it  is   impoftible  ftill. 

If  I  lliould  call  this  antichriftian  dodrine,  I  could  make  it 
out.  Bieifed  be  God,  I  do  believe  that  Chrift  is  able  to 
preferve  me  from  the  devil's  temptations,  and  all  his  inftru- 
ments,  if  I  believe  ;  though  I  could  not  do  it  in  mine  own 
power,  yet  by  Chrift's  power  I  may  be  preferved  an  hour 
without  fin  :  If  fo,  then  a  day,  and  if  one  day,  then  a  thou- 
fand  days,  if  I  live  fo  long;  Chrift  hath  promifed  that  he 
will  bruife  Satan,  and  tread  him  under  feet,  and  deftroy  his 
works,  and  judge  you  whether  fin  be  not  the  devil's  work  j 
(hall  I  defpond,  or  defpair  to  have  the  devil's  v/ork  de- 
ftroy ed  in  me  ? 

Here  is  ground  for  you  all  to  believe,  he  that  hath  faith 
may  lay  hold  of  this  power  which  is  offered  of  God;  there- 
fore lay  hold  of  it,  eli  e  your  religion  will  be  good  for  no- 
thing. This  is  the  enjoyment  of  a  true  believer,  that  he 
receives  power  from  Chrift  to  deny  himfelf ;  therefore  all 
their  pretended  Chriftianity  and  profefTions  at  the  day  of 
judgment,,  will  melt  away  like  fnow.  Thefe  canons,  arti- 
cles, forms,  liturgies,  thefe  v/ill  melt  away  when  the  day  of 
the  Lord  comes  to  burn  upon  them  ;  none  but  they  that 
feel  the  redeeming  virtues  of  the  blood  of  Chrift,  that  have 
their  fouls  filled  with  the  love  of  God ;  and  they  that  will 
part  with  whatfoever  they  love  in  the  world,  for  Chrift's 
fake,  fliall  be  accepted. 

I  am  not  for  fetting  up  this  and  the  other  fed  or  opinion  ; 
if  it  be  among  thofe  of  my  own  profeftlon,  if  they  profefs 
hoiinefs,  and  bring  forth  unrighteoufnefs,  it  is  all  one ;    I 

ihall 


the  true  MARK   of  a   CHRISTIAN.  :  121 

ihall  not  value  their  profefTion.  There  are  many  in  this 
city  and  nation,  that  have  fheltered  themfelves  under  the 
profeflion  of  truth,  and  talk  of  perfection,  and  have  brought 
their  lufts  and  imperfections'^  \i''.h  them:  Here  Antichrift 
is  trying  another  game  to  bring  them  under  a  profefTion 
that  will  ferve  his  turn  ;  the  devil  will  allow  men  prcfeilionj, 
if  they  will  live  according  to  their  own  hearts  luils,  fo 
that  they  may  fave  his  head  from  the  blow  that  God^s 
power  will  bring  upon  it,  fo  that  they  may  difhonor  the; 
holv  name  and  religion  they  make  profeffion  of;  thus  faith 
the  apoftle,  I  have  told  you  often^  and  now^  tell  you  weepiitg  ; 
they  were  Chriftians,  fo  called,  to  whom  he  fpake,  but  tliey 
%vere  enemies  to  the  crcfs  of  Chriji^  not  to  the  profeflion  of 
Chrifl;  he  did  not  fay  they  were  ftrangers  to  the  crofs  of 
Chrifl,  but  enemies  to  it ;  they  let  it  fall,  they  kept  the  name^ 
word  and  doctrine  up,  but  they  let  the  crofs  fall;  how 
much  were  thefe  Chriftians  worth  ?  lure  but  a  little. 

Nav,  Antichrifl  hath  been  fo  filly,  that  becaufe  the  w^ords 
are  fo  put  upon  the  crofs,  no  being  difciples  of  Chrift 
without  the  crofs ;  the  words  of  fcripture  are  fo  put  upon 
it.  Thinks  Antichrifl,  I  Ihall  never  perfuade  the  people  to 
be  at  eafe,  unlefs  I  give  them  a  crofs  ;  therefore  he  fets 
them  a  making  croffes.  They  mufl  be  baptized  with  the 
crofs  ;  they  fay  v/e  deny  not  the  crofs  of  Ghrifl,  we  hang 
it  about  our  necks,  we  fet  it  up  in  our  meetings  and  acade- 
mies, and  many  princes,  and  wife  men,  and  learned  men^ 
have  been  fo  bewitched  and  drunk  with  delufions,  that  they 
have  called  this  the  Chrifl  which  they  have  made  with  their 
own  hands  ;  they  have  made  Chrifls,  and  prayed  to  them  ; 
and  all  their  religion  ,  hath  been  putting  together  croffes, 
crucifixes,  forms  andvliturgies,  which  they  have  made  with 
their  own  hands. 

Here  is  Chriftianity  in  an  empty  profefTion,  but  where 
is  the  foul  of  it  ?  I^would  enquire  for  the  life  of  it,  I 
would  fee  Chriftianity  living  in  love  to  God  above  all, 
and  loving  our  neighbours  as  ourfelves,  When  this  Chrif- 
tianity comes,  there  will  be  no  killing  one  another,  nor 
perfecuting  one  another,  nor  fulfilling  the  lufls  of  the  fieili, 
nor  pleading  for  it   neither. 

BlelTed  be  God,  that  our  eyes  have  feen  the  witneffes 
Q  raifed, 


122  Bearing  the  Cno^s  of  Christ, 

raifcd,  and  life  from  Keayeii  come  into  them  ;  and  now 
religion  begins  to  have  a  life  and  foul,  and  ihews  itfelf  iri 
a  httle  remnant :  There  is  a  people  raifed  by  God  that 
feel  life  in  their  v/orfhip,  in  their  families,  in  their  con- 
verfations,  and  in  their  behaviour  towards  relations,  they 
do  what  they  do  as  to  God.  Many  lads  and  laffes,  m.en- 
fervants  and  women-fervants,  they  do  their  work  and  fer- 
vice,  not  barely  to  pleafe  their  maRer  and  miftrefs,  but  16 
pleafe  God.  17ie  life  they  live  is  hy  the  faith  of  the  Son 
of  God  ;  they  live  as  becomes  the  members  of  his  body. 
Hufbands  love  their  wives,  not  fimply  becaufe  they  ard 
their  wives,  as  the  men  of  the  World  'do,  but  they  3o  it 
upon  the  account  of  inward  religion,  and  of  the  divine 
fellowdiip  and  communion  they  have  in  Chriil  Jefus.  Huf- 
bands  fliould  love  their  wives  as  Chrift  loved  his  church, 
and  laid  down  his  life  for  it ;  fo  a  man  fnould  love  his 
wife,  and  be  tender  over  her,  and  minilier   to  her. 

The  life  of  Chridianity  hath  taught  us  to  behave  our- 
felves  fo  as  God  "may  have,  gloiy,  and  Chriflianity  be  re- 
ftored  to  its  ancient  luftre  and  beauty  that  it  had  in  for- 
m.er  times. 

"But  Tome  will  fay,  do  as  Well  as  you  can,  men  will  ne- 
ver love  you  ;  if  you  have  the  foul  of  Chriftianity,  yoii 
fhall  be  reviled  and  fcandalized.  Men  will  make' works 
againd;  you,  and  ftrov/  papers  againft  you,  and  fct  the  ma- 
giflrates  againd  you  ;  live  as  well  as.  you  can,  they  will 
follow  you  and  difturb  vou. 

This  is  mere  than  you  know.  If  a  m.an  once  comes  to 
feel  the  life  of  Chriftianity  v/orking  in  him,  and  the  pov/- 
er  of  it  keeping  him  from  doing  evil,  and  wifliing  evil  to 
his  enemies,  and  difpofmg  his  mind  to  a  frame  of  praying 
for  them,  inclining  him  to  pity  them  j  if  a  m.an  comxcs 
to  this  ftate,  he  is  at  peace  in  himfelf,  and  enjoys  tran- 
qmUity  of  m.ind  ;  he  looks  up  to  the  Mediator,  Chrifl 
Jefus,  and  feels  an  anfwer  of  peace  in  his  own  foul,  and 
is  come  to  reft  in   himfelf. 

Now  concerning  perfecution,  hatred  and  enmity,  between 
the  woman's  feed  and  the  ferpeiicine  feed,  and' how  long 
it  >j!m11  laft.  God  whom  we  ferve,  did  fay  to  the  devil 
in  Paradiie,    I  will  put  Qiimity   between   thee  and  the  %cO' 

inan^ 


the  true  MARK   of  a   CHRISTIAN,  12^ 

man,  and  between  thy  feed  and  her  feed  ;  it  fhall  hrulfe. 
thy  heady  and  thou  fhalt  bruife  his  heel.  So  that  it  is  not; 
to  be  expected,  that  the  feed  of  the  ferpent  (thofe  that 
are  bora  of  that  feed)  can  love  thofe  that  are  born  of  the 
woman's  feed.  It  is  pofiible,  that  thofe  that  are  born  of 
the  feed  of  the  ferpent,  Ihouid  be  tran dated  and  brought; 
out  of  that  corrupt  ftate  j  but  it  is  inipofTible  that  thofe  I 
that  are  born  of  the  flefn,  flioiild  love  thofe  that  are  born  of 
the  fpirit,  while  they  continue  in  their  unregenerate  Rate, 
but  perfecute  them.  It  is  Hke  a  natural  inflind;,  as  for 
water  to  run  downward,  and  fire  to  fly  upward.  Were 
not  all  men  and  women  born  children  of  wrath,  and  na- 
turally enemies  in  their  minds  to  Chrift  Jefus  ?  And  did 
he  not  die  and  fuffcr  for  them  all  ?  So  that  the  very  na- 
ture of  the  thing  is  the  very  reafon  why  Chrift  died  to 
redeem  thofe  that  were  his  enemies  to  be  his  friends. 

Suppofe  I,  or  any  other  to  be  a  member  of  Chrift,  and 
men  do  perfecute  me,  and  revile  me,  and  hate  me,  fliould  I 
not  love  them,  and  do  good  unto  them,  when  I  fee  one 
infinitely  better  than  either  you  or  I,  do  it  for  us  ?  zvhen  ive 
ivere  enemies,  Chrift  hath  fent  his  Spirit  into  our  hearts, 
that  we  might  become  friends  of  him,  and  of  him  that  fent 
him:  This  is  the  effect  of  the  righteoufnefs  of  Chrift,  and 
of  his  innocence,  that  enemies  may  become  friends  j  thus  have 
many  been  brought  to  a  friendihip  of  truth,  that  were  ene- 
mies to  it;  if  we^ could  not  fuffer  for  the  teftimony  we  have 
received  of  God,  what  were  it  worth?  But  feeing  God  hath 
not  only  given  us  to  believe,  but  to  fuffer  for  his  name, 
many  have  been  turned  by  this  mxcans  from  darknefs  to 
light,  and  many  more  will  y  the  light  breaks  forth  apace, 
notwithftanding  there  hath  been  fo  much  ado  to  ftop  it. 

It  hath  been  the  defign  of  many  learned  men  of  this  natioi?, 
how  ihall  we  ftop  thefe  men's  mouths  that  preach  the  doc- 
trine of  truth  in  the  inward  parts,  the  light  within,  and 
•Chrift  within  them?  I  will  not  repeat  the  many  laws  that 
have  been  made  againft  them  that  will  not  preach  lies,  but 
the  power  of  Chrift  and  his  truth  ;  nowwhat  will  you  do  ? 
You  cannot  lay  hand  on  them  as  you  ufed  to  do  ;  no,  but 
we  will  reproach  them  with  the  tongue,  We  will  render 
.them  odious  to  the  government,  as  perfons  that  wil  over- 
turn 


124  Bearing  the  Cross  of  Christ,     • 

turn  church  and  ftate,  and  that  preach  falfe  dodrine  ',  and 
when  all  is  done,  and  they  have  faid  their  worft,  people  will 
ftill  believe  that  fin  and  wicked nefs  is  hateful  to  God,  that 
God  takes  no  delight  in  fm,  and  that  the  devil  will  lead  us 
to  fin  ;  he  that  keeps  moft  from  fin,  keeps  moft  out  of  the 
devirs  clutches ;  and  he  that  lives  moft  holy,  is  moft  like 
to  God. 

Thefe  things  we  will  preach,  and  we  will  go  on  in  this 
tefti^:"ionv,  that  the  beft  way  that  man  can  take,  is  to  break 
off  their  fm  by  repentance,-  and  turn  to  God,  their  Maker, 
with  their  whole  hearts,  and  they  v/ill  look  to  their  ways, 
and  fearch,  and  try  and  examine  their  hearts,  and  if  they 
fee  evil,  to  keep  out  of  it ;  this  is  fuch  a  thing,  as  there  is 
no  withftanding  of  it,  it  will  go  through  this  nation,  and  ail 
the  nations  of  the  eartn. 

\7hat  if  a  company  of  people  iliould  combine  together, 
and  fay,  we  will  not  have  the  fun  to  ihine  upon  the  city 
of  Londcn  ;  what  courfe  muft  we  take  ?  When  the  fun  is 
down,  we  will  build  a  bank  or  high  wall  to  intercept 
its  light  j  but  notwithftanding  all  their  endeavours,  when 
the  fun  rifeth,  it  will  get  over  their  high  banks  and  wall  ; 
fo  all  their  deligns,  and  all  the  contrivances  againft  the  light 
of  the  gofpel,  and  againft  Chrift  the  Son  of  righteoufnefs, 
and  againft  the  Spirit  of  Chrift,  the  light  will  afcend  and 
get  over  the  heads  of  them  all,  and  it  will  confound  them, 
and  break  through  all  oppofition. 

I  exhort  you  all,  rny  friends,  that  laying  afide  all  doc- 
trines, and  tenets,  and  contrivances  among  Chriftians,  to 
come  to  this  fimple  thefis  and  pnjltion  ;  it  is  no  matter  what 
I  profefs  of  religion,  if  my  life  is  not  anfwerable  to  it,  if 
there  be  not  a  love  to  God,  and  my  neighbour,  and  to  mine 
own  foul ;  there  is  no  life  nor  power  in  my  profeffion  of 
religion.  I  will  reft  fatisfied  in  the  meafure  of  knowledge 
that  God  hath  given  me  ;  I  muft  not  do  to  my  neighbour 
what  I  would  not  have  my  neighbour  do  to  me;  I  muft  be 
upright  and  fincere  towards  God  ;  God  will  not  accept  of 
any  worfhip  from  me,  when  I  am  unclean  in  body  and 
in  mind  too  ;  we  muft  fee  that  we  be  purified,  for  God  will 
not  accept  of  an  offering  from  an  unclean  heart ;  you  cannot 
bring  a  clean  thing  out  of  an  unclean^  faith  our  Lord  Jefus 

Chnft, 


the  true  MARK   of  a   ChRISTIA^T.  12^ 

Chrift,  the  great  preacher  of  tmth  and  righteoufnefs ;  I  muflr 
firfi  make  the  tree  goody  before  the  fruit  will  be  fo  ;  you  and 
I  are  thefe  trees ;  till  we  have  fomething  good  in  ourfelves, 
we  cannot  bring  forth  good  fruit. 

Therefore  you  muft  have  refped  to  the  principle  of  fanc- 
tification  in  your  own  hearts,  and  turn  to  what  you  may 
feel  an  experience  of  in  yourfelves,  fome  principle  of  grace 
and  light  in  your  hearts,  that  can  diftinguilli- between  good 
thoughts  and  evil  thoughts.  Is  this  good  for  me  to  do  ?  I 
will  go  on  in  it  with  faith  and  courage  ;  but  if  it  be  evil,  I 
will  not  touch  it,  though  there  be  profit  and  pleafure  to 
allure  and  draw  me  to  it;  I  wijl  not  touch  it,  though  I 
might  gain  the  world  by  it. 

Here  is  Chriftianity  with  life  and  foul  in  it ;  v/e  have  been 
fcandalized  as  if  we  preached  up  error  for  juftification  :  ^e 
fay  there  is  no  juftification  without  fandification ;  fo  you 
that  know  the  power,  live  in  it ;  and  you  that  defire  to 
know,  turn  your  minds  to  the  light  and  grace  of  God, 
and  you  will  feel  the  power  that  will  oppofe  fin  in  its 
motion,  and  it  will  never  trouble  you  in  its  ad:  and  workings. 
If  I  would  not  do  ill  to  my  neighbour,  and  I  judge  fuch  a 
motion  when  it  is  fuggefted,  it  will  never  trouble  my  con- 
fcience,  becaufe  when  the  devil  moved  me  to  it,  I  rejeded 
it,  I  would  not  follow  him.  It  is  no  fm  to  be  tempted; 
for  our  Saviour,  that  was  perfedly  holy,  and  free  from  all 
fm,  was  yet  tempted  ;  he  had  motions  in  his  mind,  but  he 
withftood  them,  and  refifted  the  devil  in  all  his  temptations ; 
Chrift  was  tempted  that  he  might  be  able  to  fuccour  us 
when  we  are  tempted;  and  he  will  do  it  for  all  thofe  that 
wait  for  him. 

Therefore,  friends,  truft  in  the  name  of  the  Lord,  and 
you  fhall  feel  the  ftirrings  of  that  power,  that  hath  called 
you  out  of  dark?tefs  into  the  marvellous  light  of  the  fun  of 
righteoufnefs  wherein  you  live,  and  which  will  ftiine  to  his 
immortal  glory  and  praife,  and  the  everlafting  comfort  of 
your  immortal  fouls. 


SERMON 


VS  E  R  M  O  N      XL 

The  Spirit  of  Christ  the  only  true  Guide. 

Preac/ied  at  GracE'ChurcH'Street,  October  lOy  i^go. 

O  U  that  are  met  together  in  the  name  of  the  Lord, 
and  have  your  expedation  from  God,  and  are  re- 
ally waiting  to  receive  a  bleffing  from  his  boun- 
tiful hand  ;  you  are  they  to  whom  -the  Lord  will  com- 
municate the  good  things  of  his  kingdom,  and  inftrud: 
you  in  the  divine  knowledge  which  the  wifdom  of  this 
world  cannot  find  out ;  you  (hail  have  your  portion  in  the 
bleffings  prepared  for  you,  and  laid  up  in  Chrift  for  you, 
to  be  handed  forth  to  you  from  d^^y  to  day  for  your  fup- 
port.  And  hereby  you  have  been  preferved  and  kept  alive 
unto  this  day.  Yor  have  received  your  nourilliment,  and 
divine  and  fpiritual  refrefhment,  aiv/ays  in  the  preience  of 
God  y  when  vou  have  been  out  of  his  prefence  yoii  have 
met  with  troubles,  and  darknefs  hath  gendered  upon  your 
minds,  and  veiled  and  clouded  your  underftcvidings,  that 
you  have  been  fometimes  in  danger  to  lofe  vour  way,  un- 
til you  have  returned  again  unto  the  great  fliepherd  and 
overfeer  of  your  fculs,  by  ivkofn  ycu  have  had  accefs  unto 
God.  You  that  have  had  thefe  experiences,  O  let  your 
hearts  and  fouls  be  engaged  to  continue  together  in  one 
heart  and  one  mind,  iervmg  the  Lord  and  waiting  upon 
liim  for  fomething  that  may  do  you  good  ;  that  may  ftrength- 
en  and  confirm  you  in  the  blelTed  truth.  ^ 

For  there  are  a  great  many  that  are  convinced,  that  do 
yet  want  eftabiifhment :  There  are  a  ^reat  many  that  know 
the  truth,  yet  cannot  be  brought  to  abide  in  it,  but  are 
fometimes  drawn  out  of  it,  and  then  they  meet  with  trou- 
ble in  their  minds,  and  diftrefs  atid  angmjii  lay  hold  upon 
thern,  and  they  do  not  enjoy  that  tranquillity  and  peace, 
and  that^  in\xard  joy  which  they  believe  others  do  enjoy 
at  the  fame  time  ;  and  which  they  might  have  enjoyed 
if  they  had  abode  ftedfaft  in  the  truth.  Now  what  is  it 
that  will  cftabiiih  fuch  a  one,  but  their  waiting  upon  God 

to 


The  Spirit  of  Christ  the  only  true  Guij>e.  iiy 
to  receive  power  from  him  to  refift  the  temptations,  and 
the  manifold  wiles  and  fnares  of  their  fours  enemy,  where- 
by they  are  daily  in  danger  to  be  drawn  away  from  God  j 
drav/n  out  of  the  ^^ay  ? 

You  icnow,  friends,  liow  the  Lord  brought  us  into  this 
exercife  of  Waiting  upon  him.,  by  making  us  fenfible  that 
there  was  none  could  help  us  but  him.  Teachers  we  have 
dways  had,  and  men  that  have  fpoken  of  God,  fpoken 
of  his  power,  and  fpoken  of  his  wifdom  ;  but  how  to 
dwell  in  that  'power,  and  frand  eftabliihed  in  it,  fo  as  at 
ail  times  to  refift  the  power  of  the  wicked  one,  is  what 
ho  man  can  help  us  to  ;  and  upon  this  account  it  was, 
that  th-e  Lord's  people  were  fain  to  cleave  clofe  to  him, 
and  bv  "faith  to  have  their  dependence  upon  him;  and 
cry  in'their  fouls,  Lord,  unlefs  thou  efcabiifh  me,  I  fhali 
never  be  eftabliihed. 

The  confirming  power  that  ftays  and  fettles  their  minds 
upon  the  Lord,  it  comes  from  him,  it  is  handed  to  us 
through  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  whom  we  have  believed  in  ; 
they  that  kept  their  faith  in  him  have  had  longings  and 
breathings  of  fpul,  that  they  might  receive  fome  divine 
bleiTmgs  by  him,  and  through  him.  So  that  they  that  meet 
together  in  this  mind,  they^  find  afettlement  in  the  truth,  as 
it  is  manifefted  ^nd  revealed  in  them,  and  goes  down  into 
the  deep  where  unity  is  known,  v/here  they  are  of  one  mind, 
and  the  foul  is  made  capable  of  putting  forth  ftrong  cries 
to  God,  and  living  breathings  and  prayers  to  God,  that  he 
will  teach  them,  how  they  fhall  profit,  how  they  fhali 
grow,  how  they  ftiall  fefve  him,  and  honour  him  in  their 
dav  ;  that  he  >y/ill  reveal  his  power  in  them,  to  expel  any 
darknefs  or  veil  that  hath  been  gatheted  upon  their  .minds, 
that  doth  hinder  them  from  beholding  fo  much  glory  and 
excellency  in  the  truth,  and  in  the  ways  of  God,  as  fome 
they  have  beheld.  And  fo  tliefe  are  travellers  that  are  tra- 
velling with  the  Lord  4U  faith,  to  receive  a  bieiling  at 
his  hands.  Their  minds  are  not  left  to  this,  or  that,  or 
the  other  man,  or  to  m.eer  words  or  vifible  things  ;  but 
thev  feel  the  word  of  truth  anfwering  the  truth  in  them- 
felves;  and  they  receive  a  comfort  and  benefit,  becaufe  they 
find  a  bieiling  "to  -arife  in  them,     Thefe  words  reach  my 

foul 


128     The  Spirit  of  Christ  the  only  true  Guide. 
^  foul  ;  thefe  adminifter   help  to   me,    and   I   am   comforted 
in   them,    becaufe  I   find  thofe  works   working  in  me,  or 
wrought  in  me. 

For,  alas  !  my  friends,    many  of  you  know,  that  there 
are   fome  who  hear  the  word,  and  the  declarations  in   the 
word  are  but  founds   unto  thofe  who  have  no   experience 
of  t«he  work  that  is  fignified  by  the  word  ;  many  fuch  peo- 
ple do   hear  the  lovely  found,  and  they  are  affected  ma- 
ny times  to  hear  talk  of  the  work  of  regeneration,  and  of 
the  enjoyments  of  God's  people,  and  how   they  are  borne 
up   in  all  their  trials  by  an  inward  and  divine  power,  and 
how  they  are  always  kept  alive  to  God,  and  prefer ved  in 
his  living  prefence  ;  but  this  doth   not   bear  them  up  in  a 
time   of  trial  j  but   if  a  trial  or  an  afflidion  comes,    they 
fink  under    it,   and  they  are  filled   with   anguiih  and   per- 
plexity ;    fo  that  the  word   barely  heard  fpoken,   and  not 
rooted  in  the  mind,    doth  not  minifter  to  the  work  ;  the 
words  fpoken   do   not   carry  that  kind  of  operation   upon 
them  as  to  witnefs  an  inward  work  wrought  upon   them. 
But  where  there  is   an  effectual  work  and  operation   in 
the  foul,   it  continues  in  its  labour  and  travel  from  death  to 
life.     And  as  thofe  heavenly  things,  thofe  divine  operations 
of  God's  power  are  fpoken   of,  there  is  an  amen  in  your 
fouls,  faying  as  far  as  you  have  travelled,  thus  hath  God 
dealt  with  me,  he  hath  indeed   by  his  power   carried   fome 
beyond    my    ftate  and  condition,  and   my  faith  is   hereby 
ftrengthened,    and    my  hope   is   confirmed.      He  that   hath 
begun  a  good  v/ork  fo  glorioufly  in  my  foul,  will  carry  on 
his   own   work,  and  bring  me   to  higher   attainments,  and 
further  experiences  that  fome  of  his  fervants  bear  witnefs  of. 
So  that  now  being  exercifed,  the  work  goes  on,  and  the 
fleafure  of   the  Lord  profpereth    in    Chrijlians,    that  when 
they  meet  together  in  the  name  of  the  Lord.,  they  know  for 
themfelves  that  the  Lord  is   prefent  with  them,  they  know 
what  the  word  of  the  Lord  is  unto  them  ;  if  they  hear  the 
V/ord    preached   to   another  ftate  and  condition,   yet   they 
abide  in  and  keep  that  which   makes  manifeft  to   them    in 
their  own  flate :  And  this  fuffers  not  the  foul  to  be  carried 
away  with  the  word,  and  fight  and  vifion  of  a  higher  ftate 
than  their  faith  can  witnefs  to  j  and  they  keep  low,  and  hum- 
ble 


^  The  Spirit  of  Christ  the  only  true  Guive,  izc^ 
ble  and  tender,  and  have  a  care  of  their  own  fouls  ;  as  the 
apoftle  when  he  was  come  to  glorious  and  high  attainments 
in  the  work  of  the  Lord,  yet  he  would  not  glory  of  any  thingy 
but  what  the  grace  of  God  v/rought  in  him  :  \^e  do  not 
boaft  of  things  that  are  not  wrought  in  us. 

It  is  pofTible  for  the  creature  to  gather  in,  and  comprehend 
the  form  of  things,  that  they  have  not  the  work  of  in  them  ; 
and  a  great  many  have  done  lo  to  their  great  damage,  and 
fome,  it  is  to  be  feared,  to  their  utter  ruin.  They  have 
com.prehended  high  things,  and  the  notions  of  great  attain- 
ments j  they  have  heard  them  declared  and  (poken  of  thus, 
and  fo  fome  have  in  their  fpeculations  declared  to  others 
their  conceptions  about  thofe  things,  yet  thofe  things 
were  never  Wrought  in  them  ,  they  could  preach  of  humili- 
ation, when  the  root  of  pride  was  not  removed  ;  they  could 
preach  of  regeneration,  and  the  old  man  not  put  off,  and 
the  new  man  created  in  righteoufnefs  not  put  on.  All  this 
kind  of  preaching  hath  been  in  the  world,  and  is  ftiU  too 
much  in  the  world,  but  it  hath  not  produced  and  brought 
forth  any  profit  and  advantage  to  the  foul,  either  to  preach- 
er or  hearer  j  for  it  hath  not  been  accompanied  with  a 
divine  and  heavenly  blelTing;  but  the  true  miniftry  ordained 
of  God  brings  forth  a  work  of  holinefs  and  righteoufneis  in 
the  foul. 

And  therefore  every  one  that  God  hath  thus  reached, 
and  hath  opened  your  underftandings,  and  hath  made  you  ca- 
pable of  comprehending  and  underftanding  divine  things, 
take  heed  left  by  the  fubtlety  of  Satan,  and  the  wiles  of 
your  great  enemy,  you  be  at  any  time  lifted  up,  and  exalted 
in  your  minds,  in  the  notion  of  the  things  that  you  have 
not  attained ;  not  that  you  Ihould-  not  fo  underftand  the 
things  of  God  that  God  openeth  to  you,  as  they  are  many 
times  opened  to  the  creature,  before  the  work  of  them  is  in 
the  heart  of  the  creature :  And  why  fo  ?  why  are  they 
opened  to  me  ?  It  is  for  diy  encouragement,  that  if  thou 
doft  hold  on,  and  be  ftedfaft  in  waiting  upon  the  Lord,  thefe 
things  God  hath  in  ftore  for  thee. 

Now  the  creature  waits,  and  faith,  though  I  have  not  at- 
tained fuch  things  as  I  have  Teen,  yet  the  very  fight  of  them 
encourageth  me  to  wait  upon  the  Loi";d,  that  I  may  eYpe- 

R  ricnce 


ijo     The  Spirit  of  Christ  the  o-aly  true  Guide, 

rience  the  witneis  of  them  in  myfelf:  There  are  many  that 
have  iome  taue  of  great  joy,  and  apprehenlions  of  heavenly 
thi.ngs,  which  they  have  not  attained,  but  they  know  what 
thev  are  waiting  upon  God  for^  not  that  they  may  have  a 
little  joy,  which  padeth  through  them,  but  come  to  have 
that  joy  and  trariquillity  which  will  accompany  them  in  all 
their  doings,  and  their  whole  converiation.  God  hath  open- 
ed muny  things  to  you,  and  you  have  feen  the  way  of  righ- 
teoulnefs  which  he  hath  can:  up  for  you  j  and  many  have 
taken  ftrait  fteps  to  themi elves,  till  they  have  attained  to 
i'ay,  novo  ray  falvation  is  nearer  than  when  latfirji  believed, 
'Let  fuch  go  on  and  follow  that  guide  by  which  they  have 
been 'directed,  and  they  fhall  at  laft  attain  to  a  further  ilate, 
not  only  to  know  that  their  falvation  is  now  nearer  than 
when  they  at  firft  believed,  but  that  they  may  come  through 
the  Divine  Spirit  of  grace  that  they  followed,  and  To  clofely 
cleaved  to,  as  their  blefled  guide  in  their  way,  to  have  an  en- 
trance adminiftered  to  them  abundantly  into  the  falvation 
of  God,  whereby  they  may  fit  down,  in  the  kingdom  of 
God,  '^•ith  Abraham,  liaac  and  Jacob,  and  have  a  wall  about 
tliem,    v.hich  is  the  falvation  of  God. 

Here  is  a  great  encouragement  for  fmners,  and  upright 
ones,  to  follow  on  to  know  the  Lord,  and  then  they  are 
iure  thev  fhall  know  him,  for  thev  fhall  behold  his  ^lo- 
ry,  and  their  fouls  ihaii  be  fatisiied,  for  nothing  eife  will 
iati'«iy   tliem. 

People  m.ay  have  great  openings,  and  great  difcoveries 
of  things,  and  may  have  delight  and  joy  in  the  opening 
of  things,  as  it  was  with  the  difciplcs,  when  Chriil:  our 
Lord  converfed  with  them  in  the  ilefli  ;  he  opened  many 
thin.^s  to  them,  and  thev  had  ereat  iov  and  comfort  in 
thofe  things  which  he  opened  to  them,  yet  tnere  was  fome- 
thing  wanting  to  fufiice  them.  Philip  laid  unto  Chrifl, 
Lord  fliew  us  the  Father,  and  it  fufficeth  us  :  Jc/m  xiv,  8. 
There  was  fomething  further  to,  be  difcovered  and  reveal- 
ed, fo  that  they  could  not  find  their  fouls  to  be  fatisfi- 
cd  and  fufticcd,  till  they  had  it.  Chrift  gave  them  iuch 
an  anfwer  as  relates  to  that  miniftration  that  we  are  now 
under  ;  he  that  hath  feen  the  Son,  hath  feen  the  Father. 
Now  they  had  feen  Chrifl  daily,  and  converfed  V/ith  him, 

and 


The  Spirit  of  Christ  the  only  true  Guide,     iji 

and  had  eat  and  drank  with  him  in  that  fieihly  and  bodilv 
appearance  wherein  he  converfed  with  them  ;  but  they  had 
not  a  light  of  the  Eternal  Son  of  God  in  a  fpiritual  man- 
ner, as  he  was  the  Son  of  God,  and  their  Saviour  ;  they 
had  not  feen  him  fo.  And  he  that  hath  feen  Chrift  in 
a  rpiritual  manner,  hath  feen  the   Father  alfo. 

So  it  is  with  us  in  our  day.  Wq  have,  in  our  profef- 
fion,  the  teaching  of  this  and  that  man.  'Wq  have  con- 
verfed with  ChriO,  as  it  were,  to  his  fleflily  appearance. 
"VY^'e  have  read  the  hiitory  of  his  blith,  and  of  his  hfe  and  , 
great  miracles,  and  of  the  great  love  he  had  to  mankind, 
by  which  he  laid  down  his  life  for  them.  We  have  been 
converfing  with  Chrift  as  to  his  fleOily  manifeftation  ;  but 
confider  whether  there  doth  not,  till  now,  remain  an  empty 
place  in  our  fouls,  fomething  that  is  not  fufficed  and  fa- 
tisfied  ? 

W^hat  would  you  have  ?  Have  you  not  fcripture  ?  Read 
you  not  there  of  the  birth,  hfe,  death,  refurredion  and  af- 
cenfion  of  Chrift  ?  I  would  ftill  have  fomething  more, 
for  that  will  not  fuffice  mej  I  would  have  pardon  of  fin, 
and  my  peace  with  God,  and  the  light  of  his  cowntenance 
Ufted  up  upon  me^  and  further  m.anifeftations  of  Chrift  to 
my  foul.  X^e-can  never  fee  the  glory  of  God,  but  in 
the  face  of  Jefus  Chrift.  This  is  the  difcovery  that  Chrift 
makes  to  the  foui  that  believeth  in  him  j  this  is  that  which 
gives  fatisfaclion. 

A  Chriftian's  work  is  to  be  converfing  with  him,  and 
exercifing  his  mind  under  the  gathering  and  teaching  of 
him,  that  can  lead  him  to  the  Father.  None  but  Chrift 
can  do  that,  lead  them  to  the  Father,  and  ihew  them  the 
Father  ;  and  he  hath  in  our  day  revealed  himfelf,  and  maiie 
himlelf  manifeft  by  his  fpirit,  that  fpirit,  by  which  we 
comxc  to  know  his  holy  teaching,  reproof  and  inftrudion, 
daily  difcovered  in  our  fouls.  The  fpirit  is  our  guide  y 
that  fpirit  we  are  led  by,  and  are  to  walk  in.  Let  men 
go  under  Y7hat  form  and  denomination  they  will,  they  that 
ha^^e  not  the  fpirit  of  Chrift y  are  none  of  his,  until  they 
come  to   be  guided  by  his  fpirit. 

People   are    not   led   into    fin   by   the   fpirit  of  Chrift  ; 
they  will  tell  you  theie  are  the  devifs  temptations,    and 

the 


rj2     The  Spirit  of  Chrtst  the  only  true  Guid^. 

the  frailty  of  our  nature,  and  the  corruption  of  our  hearts, 
by  which  we  are  led  into  fin  j  it  is  not  the  fpirit  of  Chrift, 
It  would  be  a  horrid  thing  for  men  to  fay  that  the  fpirit 
of  Chrift  led  them  into  fm  ',  there  are  ■  few  or  none  fo 
wicked  as  to  fay  fo.  The  bufinels  we  are  to  do  in  tha 
v/orld  is,  to  obey  the  will  of  God  :  And  where  the  un* 
derftandings  of  men  are  fo  illuminated,  that  they  are  fa- 
tisficd  in  their  minds,  that  God  hath  been  pleafed  to  give 
them  a  manifeftation  of  the  fpirit  to  profit  withal  ;  all 
thofe  that  have  this  fpirit  of  Chrid,  are  direded  by  it  to 
do  the  will  of  God,  and  to  deny  their  own  wills,  and 
the  will  of  others,  that  would  draw  them  from  their  du- 
ty that  they  owe  to  God  in    their  generation. 

It  is  an  excellent  ftate  and  condition  for  a  man  to  be 
guided  by  the  fpirit,  and  to  be  brought  under  the  govern- 
ment of  Chrift,  who  is  the  way^  the  truth^  and  the  hfe^ 
So  that  they  that  come  under  this  government,  are  direded 
and  pointed  out  every  day  to  do  the  will  of  God.  This 
thou  muft  do,  and  God  will  be  pleaded  with  thee  ;  and 
this  thou  mayeil  not  do,  for  if  thou  doeft  it,  the  Lord  will 
be  angry  with  thee  ;  it  is  fin  againft  God.  So  that  we 
have  a  heavenly  advantage  of  being  taught  of  God  by  his 
fpirit,  to  have  the  divine  and  heavenly  teaching  of  the 
fpirit  of  God  revealed  in  us  '■,  if  we  are  at  a  lofs,  or  make, 
a  Queftion,  or  difpute  about  a  matter,  the  fpirit  iviH  lead 
1/s  into  all  truth,  if  we  give  up  ourfeives  to  his  guidance 
and  teaching. 

This  hath  been  our  defire  and  labour  many  years,  not 
.to  draw  people  to  obferve  what  we  fay  5  for  who  can 
direct  another  man  in  all  thinjis  relating  to  the  fervice  of 
God  ?  If  we  were  ever  fo  certain  ourfeives,  we  could  not 
convey  certainty  and  infallibility  upon  all  occafions  to 
another,  if  we  Ihould  fpeak  ever  fo  much,  and  be  ever  fo 
converfant  with  them.  Therefore  our  work  is,  that  all 
people,  in  all  things  relating  to  their  (ouls,  might  have  re- 
courfe  continually  to  the  infallible  teacher  and  guide,  which 
God,  through  Jefus  Chrift,  hath  made  known  to  them. 
If  people  be  ruled  by  this,  they  cannot  but  live  in  unity, 
and  love  one  another  ;  they  will  not  fall  into  malice,  con- 
tention,   and  hatred  one  againft  another.     It  is  impofiible 

for 


The  SpikiT  of  Christ  the  only  true  CutDE.     Tj^ 
for  nations  to  make  war,  and  deftroy  one  another,  if  they 
would  be   guided   by    the    unerring  fpirit  of  Chrift  ',    fof 
how  fhould  it   contradid  itfelf  ?    For  how   can   any  thing 
agree    with   the  ftandard  of  truth,    which   Chrift  hath  fet 
up,  that  ads  in  contradiction  to  it  ?    For  nothing  is  truth 
but   what  concurs  with   it  ;    therefore  it  muft  needs  agree 
With  itfelf.     If  we  be  direded  by  the  fpirit,  we  (hall  call 
that  good  v/hich  is  really  good  ;  and  that  evil  which  is  fo. 
If  there  be  thoufands  direded  by  the  fpirit  of  Chrift,  which 
leads  into  all  truth,  that  v/hich   is  good  to  one,    is  fo   to 
all  ;  and  that  which  is  evil  to  one,  is  fo  to  all.     We  muft 
firft  know  what  is   good,  and  then  receive  power  to  do  it. 
If  we  come  to  be  inftruded  by  the  unerring  fpirit,  to  know 
what  is  the  good  and  acceptable  will  of  God,    we  ihall  re- 
ceive daily  power  from   him  to  do  the  will  of  God  ',  we 
ihall   all  fpeak  the  fam^e  thing,  and  be  of  the  fame  mind, 
and  hve  in   love  and  unity.     There    is    no    evil    wilfully 
done  againft   God,    where  the  fpirit   of  Chrift,  the  gofpeV 
fpirit,   comes   to  prevail   upon   us  ;    it   will    bring  us  to  a 
peaceablenefs  of  fpirit,    to  live  in    love  and  unity.     And 
the  great  work  we  have   in   the  world,  will  be  to  do  the 
good   and  acceptable  will  of  God,    both   with   refpcct  to 
our  folemn  v/orftiip  of  God,  and  our   duties   towards  our 
neighbours.    Then  there  will  be  tranquillity,  peace  and  joy, 
and  comfort  to  all  the  churches  of  Chrift  that  are  under 
his   government.     And  it  is  given  to    the  fons  and  daugh- 
ters of  men  every  where,  when  they  come  under  the  yoke 
of  Chrift,    and  take   up  a    daily    crofs,    and  live   in  felf- 
denial  j  this  will  bring  peace  and  concord  amiong  them. 

Many  will  come  to  our  meetings,  and  fpend  a  little 
time  to  hear  what  we  fay.  Wq  exhort  them  to  give  up 
themfelves  to  the  peaceable  government  of  the  fpirit  of 
Chrift,  that  will  jinijh  tranfgreffion,  and  make  an  end  of 
fin,  and  bring  into  the  foul  (where  fm  reigned)  everlafting 
righteoufnefs,  W^here  there  is  a  great  deal  of  pride,  ma- 
lice and  envy,  the  fpirit  of  Chrift  will  root  it  up  y  and  all 
that  evil  that  the  enemy  hath  planted  in  men,  he  will 
pluck  it  up,  and  bring  in  everlafting  righteoufnefs,  and 
plant  love  in  the  fame  foul,  and  eftabiiin  and  fettle  it. 
Such  a  one  will  have  more  joy,  pleafure  and  delight,  un- 
der 


1^4     ^^'^  Spibit  of  Christ  the  only  true  Guide, 
der    the  governmerr  oF  the   ipirit   of  Chrift   in   one  day, 
than   any  one  can  have  that  is  governed  by   the  evil   fpi- 
rit   in  a  thou  fan d  days. 

You  fay  t/ie  rnantfeftation  of  the  Spirit  ts  given  to  every 
man  to  profit  vjithal ;  whac  pront  fhall  we  get  I  How  doth 
it  appear,  that  the  manifertation  of  the  Spirit  is  given  to  pro- 
fit withal  ?  Bccaufe  there  is  that  life  and  grace  ftirring  in 
the  heart  that  makes  it  profitable,  and  truth  doth  fo  prevail, 
that  it  makes  us  do  thofe  things  that  are  good  and  pro- 
fitable, and  to  avoid  tho''e  things  that  are  reprovable.  If  thou 
woulded:  hearken  to  the  ipirit,  that  is  the  reprover,  that 
convinceth  of  fin,  thou  mud  turn  away  thy  mind  from  that 
which  will  lead  into  thofe  things  that  are  reproveable, 
otherv/ife  thou  wilt  be  under  condemnation  in  thine  own 
l>ofom. 

^"hen  the  Spirit  of  God  ijluminates  men  to  fee  fm,  the 
evil  of  fin,  he  wiU  give  them  power  againfi:  it  ;  but  when 
they  come  to  receive  poY'er  atainft  it,  and  ftedfaftnefs  in  the 
ways  of  God,  v/hat  wi!'  be  the  effecl  of  that  t  If  I  become 
righteous,  and  live  a  holy  iiie,  and  my  companions  be  wicked, 
they  will  mock  nie,  and  reproach  me,  what  benefit  ihall  I 
have  by  being  righteous  ?  I  iee  evidently  I  fiiall  lofe  many 
advantages  Vv'hich  I  mdght  oiherwife  reap,  and  reach  with 
mine  own  hand.  I  muft  for^'ake  my  profits  and  pleafure, 
and  other  dehehts  of  this  v/orld. 

The  difciples  faid  to  Ghrift,  we  have  forfaken  all,  and 
followed  thee  ;  what  Ihall  we  have  ?  People  before  they 
would  forfake  all  would  have  fomething  in  the  room 
of  it-  Ghrift  tells  them,  that  he  that  hath  forfaken  all^ 
father  and  mother,  brother  a7zd  fifter,  and  lioufe  and  land, 
for  his  name  fake,  fnall  have  In  this  life  an  hundred  fold, 
and  in  the  world  to  come,  eternal  life,  W\\2X  is  the  mean- 
ing of  that,  they  fliall  have  in  this  life  an  hundred  fold  ? 
Ghrift  that  is  truth  itfelf,  that  cannot  lie,  hath  promifed, 
that  they  that  forfake  all,  fhall  receive  an  hundred  fold  : 
Now  people  are  ready  to  grafp  at  it  ;  they  think  it  is  fome- 
thing that  will  anfwer  the  lofs  of  what  they  part  withal ;  what 
thou  receiveft  in  this  promife';  m/aft  not  be  of  the  fam^e  fort 
and  kind  with  thofe  things  thou  aicx^i  part  withal  \  but  when  . 
thou  haft  parted  with  all  for  Ghrift's  fake,  and  the  gofpel, 

thou 


The  Spirit  cf  Ciirist  the  only  true  Guide,     ij^ 

thou  fhalt  receive  that  which  thou  fhait  acknowledge  is  an 
hundred  fold  better,  and  will  make  thee  an  hundred  fold 
richer  and  happier,  and  it  v/ill  give  thee  an  hundred  fold 
more  than  all  that  thou  hafl  parted  with  could  give  thee. 

If  we  part  with  fin,  we  part  with  that  which  brings  bon- 
dage and  fear  of  death  ;  having  parted  with  that,  then  thy 
fear  and  bondage  is  gone,  and  thou  lived  then  the  reft  of 
thy  life-time  at  liberty  :  But  this  is  not  all,  tliou  liveft  in  the 
enjoyment  of  the  favour  of  God,  thou  ihalt  have  the  fenfe  of 
his  love,  and  the  comfort  of  his  Holy  Spirit,  and  you  lliall 
live  in  peace  and  righteoulnefs,  and  treafure  up  to  yom-f elves, 
glory,  honour.^  ijmnortallty ^  and  eternal  Ufe ;  whereas  before 
you  did  treafure  up  only  ivrath  againfl  the  day  of  wrathy 
and  the  re^oelatio'n  of  the  righteous  pidgyneiit  of  God  ;  thou  (halt 
receive  an  hundred  fold,  that  which  is  an  hundred  fold  better. 
Thofe  that  part  with  the  things  that  are  reprovable,  iind  do 
what  Chrift  in  his  day  performed,  the  good  and  acceptable 
will  of  God,  the  enjoyments  that  he  hath  in  Chrift,  and  the 
comfort,  peace  and  tranquillity  he. enjoys,  is  an  hundred- 
fold better  and  more  delightful  than  all  the  pleafures  of  fin, 
and  the  pleafures  and  delights  of  ftiows,  and  fights  and  plays, 
and  comedies,  which  vain  men  entertain  themfelves  with 
in  their  carnal  ftatc.  A  carnal  man  cannot  underftand  and 
difcern  the  things  of  God,  and  the  pleafures  diat  are  to  be 
had  in  his  holy  ways ;  he  only  looks  at  the  things  that: 
are  feeny  which  are  temporal^  and  not  at  the  things  that 
are   not  feen,  ivhlcli  are  eternal. 

But,  my  friends,  thofe  things  which  are  imfeen,  are  not 
fo  unfeen,  but  that  when  a  man  hath  an  eye  opened  within  ' 
him  of  the  fame  nature  with  thofe  things,  he  can  fee  them: 
Blefled  be  God  that  we  have  an  eye  opened  to  fee  fpiritual 
things,  to  fee  the  heavenly  treafure,  and  enjoy  it  in  thefe 
earthen    vefTels. 

For  all  that  have  an  ear  to  hear,  it  would  be  a  profitable 
change  to  part  with  all  that  is  evil  in  the  fight  of  God,  and 
put  themfelves  under  the  yoke  of  Chrift,  and  receive  a  prin- 
ciple of  grace  which  he  will  comxmunicate  to  them,  that  they 
may  do  the  good  and  acceptable  will  of  God,  and  fo  may 
enjoy  an  hundred  fold,  and  have  comfort,  peace,  and  joy 
before  they  go  hence^  and  are  rro  more  fecn. 

You 


ij5*     The  Spirit  of  Christ  the  only  true  Guide, 

You  to  whom  God  hath  To  gracioufly  and  mercifully  ap- 
peared, that  have  an  underftanding,  and  a  tafte  and  feeling 
of  thole  things  which  are  divine  and  fpiritual,  and  ivhick 
-pertain  to  life  and  godlinefs  ;  of  all  the  people  in  the 
world,  you  are  an  engaged  people  to  ferve  the  Lord  ;  great 
obligations  He  upon  you,  that  you  fhould  abide  and  continue 
in  that  which  God  hath  revealed  and  difcovered  to  you  ;  I 
mean  grace  :  For  you  will  never  grow,  till  you  be  under 
the  government  of  the  grace  of  God,  that  grace  that  ap* 
peared  to  you  before  you  came  to  the  knowledge  of  God 
and  his  ways,  that  hath  been  with  you  in  your  travel  from 
death  to  life,  and  from  darknefs  to  light.  Prize  it  as  a 
heavenly  jewel,  as  that  which  contains  in  itfelf  all  thofe 
things  that  your  foul  ftands  in  need  of.  If  you  have  any 
ftrength  to  refift  temptation,  it  is  from  the  grace  of  God 
that  you  receive  power  to  withfland  temptations  ;  if  you 
have  any  living  openings  in  your  hearts,  it  comes  to  you 
from  that  grace  that  is  in  Chrift.  When  this,  and  that,  and 
the  other  prophecy  of  the  prophets  of  old  is  opened  to 
you,  prophecying  and  foretelling  that  ftate  and  condition 
which  yoti  are  travelling  towards,  how  the  Lord  will  Tub- 
due  your  enemies  under  you,  you  are  encouraged  hereby 
to  go  on  cheerfully  in  your  way,  to  that  reft  which  you 
are  travellings  to. 

There  are  many  of  thofe  that  believe  the  truth,  who  are 
not  come  to  eftabliihment ;  and  they  will  find  the  reafon  and 
caufe  in  themfelves.  Do  but  ask  and  enquire  how  it  comes 
to  pafs,  that  fuch  and  fuch  are  eftabiiilied,  and  not  rubje<^  to 
fear,  and  horror,  and  perplexity,  as  I  am  ?  a  little  thing  will 
turn  m,e  over,  and  fhake  and  unfettle  my  mind ;  this  hath 
been  the  caufe,  want  of  keeping  clofe  to  the  grace  of 
God  in  your  converfation  in  the  world.  When  you,  and 
your  children,  and  fervants  are  governed  by  the  grace  of 
God  in  all  you  undertake,  then  the  devil  will  endeavour 
to  bring  you  into  darknefs,  and  bring  difcompofure  upon 
your  fpirits  ;  for  the  purpofe  of  Chrift  Jefus,  our  Savi- 
our, is  to  fettle  you  -,  and  the  purpofe  of  the  deftroyer 
is,  to  difcompofe  and  unfettle  you,  and  to  marry  you  to 
this  and  the  other  changing  thing  ;  if  he  can  fix  your 
hearts  upon  this  and  that  objed,    then  there  is  inftability 

upon 


The  Spirit  of  Christ  the  only  true  Guide,      ijy 

upon  the  foul  j  take  away  that  thing,  and  it  brings  dif- 
turbance  upon  you.  If  thou  haft  any  objed  that  thy  mind 
is  fet  upon,  thou  wilt  be  much  difturbed  at  the  parting 
with  it  j  but  whofe  fault  is  that  ?  The  truth  manifefted 
unto  thee  from  the  beginning  of' thy  converfion,  did  en- 
gage thee  to  feparate  thyfelf  from  all  vifible,  fenfibie  things, 
that  God  might  have  thy  heart  and  chief  love.  If  he  had 
been  thy  God,  nothing  could  difquiet  thee,  when  fepa- 
rated  from  thee.  If  ye  will  have  other  Gods  befides"  him, 
you  will  lofe  your  Gods ;  and  when  they  are  taken  from 
vou,  you  will  be  like  Alicah,  and  fay,  ye  have  taken  av:ay 
my  Godsy  and  what  have  I  more  ?  Judg.  viii,  2,4.  The 
reafon  of  your  diicompoHare,  and  anguiih,  and  iorrow, 
was  this  J  when  you  had  fome  other  Gods  belides  the 
Lord,  and  your  hearts  did  cleave  to  fome  temporary  thnig, 
and  the  trial  came  that  you  had  to  part  with  it,  you  could 
not   bear  it. 

If  you  would  live  a  ferene  life,  a  life  of  tranquillity,  fet 
vour  minds  upon  nothing  but  upon  the  Lord,  let  him  be 
the  objed  of  your  fouls  love  ',  live  in  the  light  of  his  coun- 
tenance, and  you  may  always  rejoice  :  Confider,  as  for  tem.- 
porals,  you  hold  them  of  the  Lord  ,  God  gives  you  this 
hufband,  that  wife,  that  child,  that  eftate,  God  hath  entruft- 
ed  you  with  it  ?  but  not  fo,  but  he  that  hath  it  muft  part 
with  it,  and  be  bereaved  of  it  when  God  pieafeth.  Now, 
if  you  give  up  your  hearts  to  God,  here  will  be  your  efta- 
bliiliment  and  fettlement,  and  you  will  have  an  abundant 
entrance  i?ito  the  everlajhng  khigdom  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour 
Jefus  Chrifl.  And  would  we  feek  to  know  and  feel  wherein 
the  communion  of  the  faints  ftands ;  doth  it  not  ftand  in 
partaking  together  of  the  bread  of  life,  which  our  father 
giveth  us  from  Heaven  ?  The  father  fpreads  a  table  for  us  in 
the  fight  of  our  enemies,  and  we  are  fatisfied.  They  tihat 
come  to  partake  of  this  table  of  the  Lord,  find  ftrength 
and  refrefhment  ;  fo  do  I,  and  alfo  my  brethren  and  fifters 
thAt  fit  at  the  fame  table,  "^e  are  daily  confirmed  and 
ftrengthened  by  what  we  receive  from  God,  and  enjoy 
there  ;  here  is  our  heavenly  fellowihip  and  fociety ;  and 
where  there  is  this  root  of  love,  love  cannot  be  wanting 
in  the  branches :  There  muft  be  a  departing  from  the -bread  of 

S  life, 


ijS  FuRE  end  Spiritual  JForship. 

life,  before  there  can  be  any  jarring  and  contention  among 
the  members  of  the  fame  body,  for  we  receive  life  from  the 
fame  head,  from  vjliick  all  the  hody^  by  joints  and  hands^ 
having  720iirifnmtnt  tuinifteredy  are  kint  together,  and  encreafe 
ijoith  the  encreafe  of  God,  and  are  hziilt  upon  the  foundation 
of  the  apofles  and  prophets,  Jefus  Chrijt  himfelf  being  the 
chief  Corner-Stone^  in  ivhom  all  the  building  fitly  framed  to- 
gether, grciveth  unto  a  Holy    Temple  in  the  Lord, 

Now  that  you  may  be  all  preferved  in  Chrift,  this  is  the 
end  of  our  labour,  that  fo  every  one  that  hath  begun  in  the 
fpirit,  may  go  on  in  the  fpirit,  and  never  look  for  perfection 
in  the  9ytih  :  That  you  that  have  begun  in  humility,  tender- 
nefs,  and  brokennefs  of  heart,  may  in  that  meet  together  at 
times  and  feafons,  and  have  daily  the  pre.^ence  of  God 
among  you,  and  have  the  bread  of  life,  which  will  nourifh 
you  to  life  everlafting,  and  that  you  may  iliev/  forth  to  the 
world,  th^  trlorv,  briv^htnefs,  and  excellency  of  that  holy 
life,  which  in  Chrift  Jcfus  is  manifefted   to  you. 

S  E  R  M  O  N      XIL 
Pure  and  Spiritual  Worship. 

Preached   at  Devon SUIKE-Hov SE,   November   12^    i6c)6. 


r  I  1  H  E  worfnip  of  God,  of  the  Great  God,  is  pure  ; 
I  he  is  a  holy  God,  of  purer  eyes  than  to  behold  ini- 
-^  quity  ;  and  all  they  who  will  worfhip  God,  whofe 
fouls  are  breathing  to  have  a  return  of  a  teftim.ony  in  his 
fight,  muft  offer  up  pure  worfhip,  and  it  muft  come  from 
that  which  is  pure :  For  that  purpofe,  the  greatnefs  of  the 
love  of  God  is  'made  m.anifeft  in  Chrift  Jefus  ;  and  there 
is  a  diiTufing  of  his  grace  and  virtue  in  the  hearts  of  the  fons 
and  daughters  of  men,  whereby  he  hath  laid  a  foundation  for 
his  own  worihip  j  becaufe  his  worihip  muft  be  pure. 
Therefore  he  hath  freely  given  unto  us,  through  his  fon, 
the  knowledge  of  that  pure  principle  of  life  and  grace,  from 
whence,  and  out  of  which,  all  true  worihip  doth  fpring, 
and  all  true  honour  to  God  arifeth  ',  and  real  obedience  to  his 

holy 


Pure  and  Spiritual  Worship.  jj9 

holy  will   rprings   forth  out  of  that  which  is  from  himfelf. 

And  therefore  all  that  will  be  worlhippers  of  God  aright, 
muft  firft  know  and  be  fenfible  wherein  the  ability  and  capa- 
city ftands,  that  may  enable  them  to  do  To  great  and  fo  good  a 
work.  Some  have  conceived  it  to  Hand  in  their  own  will, 
and  according  to  the  working  of  their  own  will,  they  have 
framed  worfhips,  religions,  and  obfervations,  thinking  there- 
by to  pleafe  God  :  But  you  know  the  apoftle  in  a  fev/  fhort 
words,  Jays  down  a  pofitive  Chriftian  dodrine,  ivit/iout. 
faith  it  is  impojjible  to  pleafe  God. 

Now  this  doth  declare  and  fignify,  that  there  muft  be 
fomething  upon  which  this  faith  muft  work,  that  muft  be 
the  objed:  and  foundation  of  it  :  Faith  as  it  worketh  in 
the  creature,  worketh  upon  fomething  j  it  lays  hold  on 
fomething  in  which  there  is  a  capacity  of  plealing  God. 
Now  if  we  are  all  by  nature  children  of  ivrath,  and  that 
no  one  of  himfelf  can  pleafe  God,  then  thefe  muft  be 
fomething  that  is  fupernatural,  that  muft  be  the  objecl  of 
that  faith  by  which  men  alone  can  pleafe  Godj  and  this 
muft  be  made  manifeft  to  the  creature  for  its  help,  to  be 
its  diredlor  and  fup porter  in  that  work  that  is  too  mighty 
for  himfelf,  too  great  a  work  for  a  man  or  woman,  too 
deep,  too  profound  for  any  man's  abilities,  power,  wifdom, 
and  acquirements,  that  he  can  attain  to  in  this  world,  to  wor- 
ftiip  God  aright.  To  worlhip  God,  that  is  to  perform  a  pure 
Worfhip  to  a  pure  God  j  who  can  bring  a  clean  thing  out  of 
an  unclean  <'  Now  if  we  are  all  obliged  to  bring  a  clean  wor- 
fhip, a  pure  worlhip  to  a  pure  and  holy  God,  v/ho  hath 
created  us  and  all  things,  where  ftiall  we  have  it  ?  Not  out 
of  an  unclean  heart,  not  out  of  a  defiled  mind;  there  is  no 
bringing  it  forth  from  thence,  for  that  is  tlie  ftate  and  con- 
dition that  men  are  fallen  into  by  fin,  in  which  their  mjnds 
and  confciences  are  defiled,  their  hearts  are  polluted,  and 
their  affediions  depraved  and  fet  upon  wrong  obje(5ls ;  and 
in  this  ftate  none  can  ferve  God  aright :  That  which  is  pure 
and  holy  muft  be  firft  made  known,  revealed,  difcovered, 
and  believed,  before  people  can  perform  a  right  worlhip  to 
God. 

And  therefore  in  vain  is  it,  to  go  and  drive  people  to  this 
and  that  worlliip,  and  force  people  to  this  and  that  fervicc 

and 


j/1,0  Pure  and  Spiritual  IForship. 

and  conformity,  upon  the  account  of  the  worfhip  of  God. 
This  is  vain  \(^orihip  ;  v/hen  they  have  done  all,  it  is  not 
acceptable  to  God  ;  the  poor  creature  hath  no  return  from  the 
Lord,  for  God  accepts  no  fervice  or  worfhip,  but  only 
through  his  Son.  And  if  fo  be,  men  cannot  pray  and  preach 
in  the  fpirit  of  his  Ton,  and  cannot  prefent  their  complaints 
and  fupplication  to  God,  but  by  the  alFiftance  and  help  of 
his  bleffed  Spirit,  there  is  no  reafon  in  religion  why  people 
fhould  exped;  a  return  and  aniVer  from  God  of  the  prayers 
they  make.  For  it  is  the  general  doctrine  of  Chriftendom, 
thac  Chrift  Jefus  is  appointed  of  God  for  a  Mediator  be- 
tween God  and  man,  and  all  the  acceptance  we  have,  or  ' 
deiire  to  have,  muft  be  through  him  :  And  therefore  if  we 
pray  without  him,  and  perform  this  and  the  other  duty 
without  him,  it  is  contrary  to  the  doftrine  of  Chriftianitv, 
to  think  that  ever  we  fhould  have  acceptance  in  God's  fight. 

Therefore  there  is  a  necefnty  for  every  man  and  woman 
that  defires  to  be  religious,  that  hath  a  religious  mind,  and 
is  willing  to  worfhip  God,  and  ferve  God  aright,  there  is  a 
neceiTity  that  they  come  to  the  knowledge  of  Chrift,  who 
tells  us  that  he  is  the  way  to  the  Father.  They  that  go  any 
other  way,  2^0  a  wrong  way;  but  they  that  go  unto  God  by 
Chrift,  they  do  receive  from  him  power  to  draw  near  to 
God  ;  and  throudi  him  they  receive  from  God  all  thofe 
bieiTings  that  their  fouls  ftand  in  need  of. 

So  here  would  be  an  end  of  all  religions  the  world  is 
full  of  i  of  all  the  feveral  worihiips  that  men  have  made. 
They  have  invented  and  found  out  feveral  ways  for  peo- 
ple to  worfhip  and  ferve  God.  This  and  the  other  ce- 
remony ;  this  land  the  other  obfervation  and  method  of 
preaching  and  praying.  If  all  this  be  without  the  affiftance 
and  divine  help  of  the  Mediator,  through  whom  alone 
we  can  juftly  exped  acceptance  at  God's  hands,  it  is  all 
good  for  nothing.  Therefore  the  firft  leffbn  of  a  Chriftian 
in  point  of  worihip,  is,  that  he  come  to  the  knowledge 
of  Chriil,  by  whom,  and  through  \<'hom,  he  may  expecl 
iavour  with  God. 

Now  iome  people  fay,  we  are  already  come  to  the 
knowledge  of  Chrift  ;  we  have  read  the  relation  in  the 
goTpci  of  his  conception  J    birth,    life  and  death^  refurrec- 

tion 


Pure  and  Spiritual  Worship,  141 

tion  and  afcenfion.  Now  where  this  beUef  doth  give  a  man 
this  kind  of  Chriftian  knowledge^  it  doth  open  a  door  and 
way  for  him  into  the  prefence  of  God.  This  is  a  queftion 
that  ought  ferioufly  to  be  confidered  ;  for  if  we  err  in 
this  qiieftion,  we  err  in  all :  This  is  like  (tumbling  at  the 
threihold,  and  never  coming  into  the  houfe.  If  we  miftake 
in  laying  hold  of  Chrift,  we  miftake  in  our  worfhip,  and 
in  ail   matters  that  relate  to  life  and  falvation. 

For  if  we  muft  have  another  fort  of  knowledge  of  ChriH-, 
than  we  can  have  from  the  reports  of  others  ;  if  I  muft 
have  Chrift  revealed  in  me  before  I  can  have  the  hope  of 
glory  ;  if  I  muft  have  the  fpirit  of  Chrift  in  me,  to  help 
me  to  put  up  my  requefts  and  fupplications,  before  he 
can  prefent  them  to  the  Father,  then  all  literal  knowledge 
and  faith  cannot  ftand  men  in  any  ftead  ;  this  is  evident 
by  the  teftimony  of  all  the  writers  of  the  New  Tefta- 
ment.  Chrift  and  his  apoftles  did  concurrently  fignify, 
that  the  hope  of  a  Chriftian,  the  power  and  ftrength  of  a 
Chriftian^  all  lies  in  this,  that  they  had  known  the  reve- 
lation of  Chrift,  and  the  powerful  operation  of  the  fpirit 
working  in  them  ;  this  was  that  which  was  well  pleaftng 
to  God.  Many  fcriptures  might  be  fpoken  of,  but  you 
knov/  the  fcriptures,  and  can  read  them,  and  fee  in  them 
the  concurrent  teftimony  of  all  holy  men  to  this  day,  that 
the  knowledge  they  had  of  Chrift  was  a  divine  knowledge, 
a  fpiritual  knowledge  ;  it  was  a  knowing  him  after  the 
fpirit  ;  it  was  a  revelation  of  Chrift  in  them,  that  fepa- 
rated  and  diftinguifhed  them  from  reprobates ;  even  the 
knowledge  of  God  through  Jefus  Chrift  their  Lord.  Why 
Ihould  not  we  come  to  this  knowledge  as  well  as  they  ? 
The  Lord  is  the  fame,  and  his  power  is  the  fame,  and 
his  arm  zV  Jiot  fhortened.  "V7e  may  fee  as  much  need  of 
divine  aftlftance,  and  divine  love,  as  ever  men  did  ;  we 
can  perform  no  duty,  either  of  prayer  or  preaching,  with- 
out divine  aftlftance  ;  not  fo  much  as  a  figh  or  groan, 
that  may  have  acceptance  with  God,  without  the  help  of 
his  Spirit.  77;^  Spi'nt  helpeth  our  i?2firmities,  for  vce  knovj 
not  what  vje  Jliould  pvdiy  for  as  we  ought^  but  the  Spirit 
itfelf  maketh  mtercejl-oii  for  us  with  Q^roanings  which  cannot 
be  uttered  :    Rom,  viii,  26.     If  we  go   about  the  duty  of 

prayer 


1^2  Pure  and  Spiritual  Worship, 

prayer  without  divine  ailiftance,  we  fee  what  fad  v/ork 
we  make  of  it  ;  if  we  pray  not  in  the  fpirit,  and  with  the 
underftanding,  how  can  we  receive  the  thing  we  pray  for  ? 
But  if  we  pray  in  the  fpirity  and  vjith  the  under  flan  ding 
cilfoy  then  the  fotrit  helps  our  infirrmties  ;  the  fpirit  that 
came   from  God   brings  us  the  things  we  ftand  in  need  of. 

So  that  a  Chriftian  hath  a  foundation  for  his  worfhip 
and  Chriilian  performance  ;  what  is  that  foundation  ? 
Nothing  that  is  corrupt,  if  it  be,  it  is  good  for  nothing; 
for  nothing  that  is  corrupted  and  that  detiies,  can  be  ac- 
ceptable and  pleafmg  to  God  ;  we  are  all  polluted  and 
dehled  by  nature ;  how  can  carnal  men  worfhip  a  Spiri- 
tual God  ?  Carnal  men  that  are  in  death  and  darknefs, 
cannot  worihip  that  God  that  is  light,  and  dwells  in  light, 
that  is  inacceilible,  that  is  of  purer  eyes  than  to  behold 
iniquity.  Carnal  men  want  a  foundation  for  their  wor- 
fhip, and  will  until  they  come  to  that  foundation  that 
God   hath  laid. 

Now,  that  I  may  fpeak  intelligibly  what  the  Lord  hath 
laid  upon  my  heart,  I  would  fay  thus  :  There  is  an  u- 
niverfal  benefit  and  privilege  diuributed  and  given  free- 
ly of  God,  unto  the  fons  and  daughters  of  men,  in  their 
natural  ftate,  through  his  Son,  Jeius  Chrift,  in  that  he 
hath  caufed  his  light  to  fhine,  and  his  grace  to  be  extend- 
ed to  every  man  ',  for  the  grace  of  God,  which  bringeth 
falvation  (for  it  is  not  by  works)  hath  appeared  unto  all 
men,  and  bringeth  light,  by  which  every  man  m.ay  fee 
how  to  worihip  God  ?  God  hath  enlightened  every  man, 
and  this  light  comes  by  Chrid:  the  Mediator  ;  this  Medi- 
ator is  the  way  that  men  muft  walk  in,  if  they  will 
come  back  again  to  God  ;  for  men  are  run  out  and  de- 
parted from  God  ;  if  men  will  draw  near  to  God,  and 
take  fome  foot-fteps  towads  the  kingdom  of  God,  from 
the  kingdom  of  fm  and  fatan,  they  muft  mind  the  way, 
the  way  m^uft  be  their  director,  they  mud  not  go  which 
way  they  lift. 

This  is  that  which  was  prophefied  ofChrift;  faith  God,  hy 
the  prophet  Ifaiah,  I  iv ill  give  him  for  a  leader,  I  would  fain 
return  to  God,  and  go  out  of  the  kingdomof  lin  and  iatan,  to 
the  kingdom  of  God  :  God  hath  given  Chriil  to  lead  me ;  if 

kne\(r 


Pure  and  Spiritual  Worship.  14^ 

knew  what  way  he  Would  lead  me  in,  I  would  go  that  way. 
As  foon  as  a  man  takes  hold  of  Chrift,  his  grace,  and  fpi- 
rit,  and  life,  he  will  be  ready  to  fay,  I  am  corrupt ;  my 
fenfes  are  corrupt,  my  mind  is  depraved,  my  confcience 
defiled  and  polluted  ;  but  I  have  found  out  fomething 
that  God  hath  beftowed  upon  me,  that  is  effential,  holy 
and  pure,  that  did  never  confent  to  my  corruption,  but  is  a 
witnefs  for  God  againtl  it :  Here  noY/  a  Chriftian  lays  hold 
on  Chrift,  the  leader ;  which  way  will  he  lead  me  ?  If 
thou  lay  eft  hold  of  this  guide,  he  will  lead  thee  out  of  evil, 
he  will  teach  thee  to  ceafe  to  do  evil,  and  fpeak  evil  :  This 
light  will  lead  thee  to  nothing  that  will  dishonour  God,  or 
defile  thine  own  foul  :  But  this  is  not  all,  we  muft  not 
only  ceafe  to  do  evil,  but  we  muft  be  doing  fomething ; 
there  muft  be  a  breaking  off  from  pride,  foolifh  jejtlng\  evil 
co?nmimLcatlon  ;  but  this  is  not  all  that  he  will  lead  me  to ; 
let  us  learn  that  lefTon,  ceafe  to  do  evil.  This  dodrine  was 
preached  before  Chriftianity  was  preached,  as  it  is  now 
preached  ;  the  prophets  of  old  preached  this  dodrine  to 
the  Jews  that  were  under  an  outward  adminiftration,  ceafi* 
td  do  evily  and  learn  to  do  vjell^  then  I  will  plead  with  you, 
and  difcourfe  with  you,  faith  the  Lord :  Come  7ioiv,  let  us 
reafoii  together,  faith  the  Lord,  though  your  fins  be  as  fear- 
lety  they  fhall  be  as  white  as  fnow  ;  ^f^bougk  they  be  red  liks 
cri'ivfon^  they  fhall  be  as  ivool. 

This  is  the  firft  leffon  that  a  true  Chriftian  learns  in  his 
turning  to  God,  in  his  change  and  tranflation,  to  ceafe  frG?n 
that  which  is  evil:  Here  is  a  ceffation  of  rebellion,  and 
here  is  fome  hopes  of  being  reconciled  to  God  ;  a  man  hath 
been  a  rebel  againft  his  Maker,  but  he  hath  now  received 
help  to  refift  thofe  temptations  that  prevail  over  him  :  But 
there  is  no  worfhipping  yet,  there  is  a  forward  mind  in  men 
to  do  fomething  that  is  pleafing  to  God  j  but  there  are 
fome  that  are  not  troubled  at  all  for  their  evil  wavs,  and 
dread  not  God's  anger,  but  make  a  mock  at  fm,  that  draw 
others  to  it,  and  make  themfelves  merry  in  it:  And  there  is 
a  fort  fo  far  touched  with  a  divine  fenfe  of  God's  love  to 
them,  that  they  have  alfo  a  ((^a^'o.  of  his  anger  and  indigna- 
tion, becaufe  of  their  fin  ;  and  the^z  would  be  fain  out  of  his 
anger;  and  who  can  blame  them?    \fhen  a  man  feels  the 


anger 


144-  Pure  and  Spiritual  Worship, 

anger  of  God  burning  like  a  fire  in  his  bofom,  who  can 
blame  that  man  if  he  defire  peace  with  God  ?  If  he  be  under 
a  fenfe  of  the  difpleafure  and  indignation  of  the  Almighty, 
he  muft  nothafte  too  foon  out  of  that  condition  he  is  brought 
into^  for  this  is  God's  purpofe,  and  this  is  the  fruit  of  all 
his  troubles  and  a^ictions,  to  take  away  fm  :  God  hath  no 
other  end  or  defign  in  the  affliction  that  is  upon  him, 
than  to  take  away  fin  ;  when  God  hath  brought  a  people 
into  a  diftreded  and  dejeded  ftate  for  their  lin,  the  fruit  that 
God  expecls,  is  the  taking  aivay  of  ^leirjin,  and  he  will  hide 
pride  from  them,  and  hum_ble  them  before  him  ;  if  this  be 
the  purpofe  of  God,  that  he  intends  to  purge  and  purify  his 
people  ;  then  faith  the  poor  creature,  if  God  defign  to  pu- 
rify me  from  fin,  then  I  will  pray  to  God  to  fupport  me, 
and  bear  me  up  under  his  indignation  :  That  is  the  cry  of 
the  foul  that  he  may  not  be  brought  too  foon  from  under 
the  judgment  of  God,  but  may  be  fupported  and  hid  in 
the  hollow  of  God's  hand,  until  the  time  of  remifTion  and 
rcfrefhing  comes,  that  he  may  behold  the  light  of  God's 
countenance. 

Here  is  encouragement  for  every  one  that  is  acquainted 
with  this  divine  principle  of  grace,  that  will  be  led  by  it, 
and  follow  it  To  far  as  to  be  led  out  of  evil  ;  then  they  will 
be  fitted  to  do  fomething  in  the  work  of  God  ;  every  figh 
and  groan  that  thou  haft  the  afTiflance  of  the  fpirit  of 
God  to  help  thee  in,  is  a  part  of  worfhip  :  All  thy  broken- 
nefs  of  heart  is  part  of  worfhip  ;  hereby  thou  acknowledg- 
efl:  the  great  God,  that  he  is  able  to  help  thee  on  in  thy 
way,  and  to  pardon  thy  iniquity,  and  blot  out  thy  tranf^ 
greiTion,  and  give  thee  all  thofe  heavenly  blefTings  that  thy 
foul  doth  ftand  in  need  of.  Then  thy  foul  will  bow 
down  to  God  in  acls  of  holy  worfhip,  and  fay,  with  a 
humble  confidence  and  expeclation,  God  will  do  all  thofe 
things  in  me,  and  for  me,  that  will  promote  m_y  falvati- 
on.  It  is  nothing  in  religion  for  people  to  go  from  pray- 
ing and  preaching  to  finning  ;  but  God  muft  have  a  holy 
facrifice,  and  that  muft  come  out  of  a  pure  heart.  Now 
when  a  man  is  brought  by  the  help  of  God,  and  by  the 
divine  aiTiftance  of  the  Mediator,  Jefus  Chrift,  to  break  off 
from  his  fin,  then  he  ftands  fair  to  become  a  child  of  God, 

and 


Pure  and  Spiritual  Worship.  14^ 

and  to  be  a  fervant  of  God,  and  to  do  fomething  for  God 
in  his  generation,  and  to  offer  to  God  praiie  and  thankf- 
giving,  and  to  perform  all  other  duties  that  God  fliall  lead 
him  into. 

But  fome  will  fay,  what,  muft  not  we  do  any  thing  ?  I  have 
deeply  weighed  that  queftion,  what  a  poor  man  or  woman 
muft  do,  that  is  come  out  of  bondage.  There  is  a  propenlity 
in  people  to  be  doing,  they  would  fain  do  fomething,  they 
would  be  doing ;  they  fay,  what  ihall  I  do  ?  If  I  do  fome- 
thing that  pleafes  not  God,  I  had  better  let  it  alone ;  and  I 
can  do  nothing  acceptable  to  God  without  divine  af- 
fiftance  :  Such  a  one  that  fees  his  own  impotency  and 
inability,  will  caft  his  care  upon  God,  and  will  fay,  the 
Lord  is  able  to  lead  me  and  guide  me :  I  am  ready  to  do  thy 
will,  O  God!  Make  it  clear  to  me  that  this  is  thy  will, 
and  that  this  is  that  which  thou  requireft ;  I  am  ready  to  do 
it,  though  it  be  a  crofs  to  mine  own  will :  He  is  ready  to  go 
on  in  God's  way,  in  the  way  of  Chriftianity  ,  fuch  a  one 
that  hath  the  true  knowledge  of  Chrill:,  if  he  fpeaks,  the 
Spirit  of  Chrift  fpeaks  in  him  ;  if  he  prays,  it  is  through  the 
affiftance  of  the  Spirit  of  Chrift,  through  whom  God  alone  is 
appeafed  and  reconciled,  and  through  whom  they  may  re- 
ceive a  blefling  from  God's  hands  :  But  for  men  to  run  on 
in  their  own  wills,  and  to  do  a  thing  because  they  will  do  it, 
they  had  better  fit  ftill  ;  this  doing  in  their  own  wills,  hath 
filled  the  world  with  a  fort  of  Chriftians  that  want  accep- 
tance with  God,  which  is  to  be  had  alone  through  the  Lord 
Jefus  Chrift  ;  and  the  want  of  the  guidance  of  God's  Holy 
Spirit,  is  the  mifery  and  downfal  of  Chriftianity  in  our  days. 

Therefore  it  is  our  work  and  bufinefs  to  build  upon  that 
foundation  which  God  hath  laid  j  no  worfhip  is  pleafing  to 
God,  but  that  which  arifeth  from  that  fpring  that  is  pure 
and  holy:  If  I  Cc  nnot  find  that  which  will  keep  me  from 
all  pollution  and  defilement,  if  I  cannot  find  that,  I  muft 
ftay  till  I  can  ;  to  begin  a  worftiip  and  a  religion  without 
I  know  that  it  is  acceptable  to  God,  is  but  loft  labour,  and 
time  fpent  in  vain. 

Therefore,  friends,  let  every  one  that  defires  to  be  reli- 
gious, turn  their  mind  inward,  wait  for  the  gift  of  God, 
which  is  elfentially  pure,  that  never  did  confent  to  evil, 

T  that 


1^6  Pure  and  Spiritual  Worship, 

that  never  mixed  with  the  corruption  of  nature,  but  bears 
Viatnefs  to  the  hght,  that  will  guide  you  and  lead  you,  and 
conduct  you  firil:  out  of  fin ;  then  it  will  lead  you  into 
that  woriliip  and  religion,  and  the  performance  of  thofc 
things  that  are  pleafmg  to  God.  They  that  are  come  thus 
to  worihip,  they  do  not  only  know  what  the  Lord  requires 
of  them,  and  v/hen  he  requires  it  of  them,  but  they  are  given 
up  into  the  hands  of  God ;  they  pray,  preach,  exhort, 
and  live  according  to  the  will   of  God. 

It  is  hard  for  people  in  a  carnal  ftate  to  believe  this  ;  but 
you  that  are  believers,  that  are  come  to  know  the  gift  of 
God  in  yourfelves,  and  the  neceffity  of  being  ruled  by  him, 
you  will  believe  us,  for  none  elfe  will  believe  us  ;  let  us 
preach  to  as  many  people  and  nations  as  we  will,  none  will 
receive  us  as  true  minifters,  but  thofe  that  have  the  tnath 
in  their  own  hearts  j  ,if  there  be  any  that  defpifeth  the  grace 
of  God  in  his  own  heart,  he  hates  that  which  chides  and  re- 
proves him  ;  if  there  be  fuch  a  man,  he  v/ill  hate  me  becaufe 
I  am  a  minifter  and  a  witnefs  of  the  grace  of  God,  and  of 
that  truth  in  the  inward  parts,  which  is  the  ground  and 
foundation  that  man  hath  of  acceptance  with  God.  A 
wicked,  carnal  wretch  will  fay,  I  hate  fuch  a  one,  I  hate 
the  light,  that  which  checks  me,  and  witneffeth  againftme; 
thou  art  fuch  a  one  as  bearefl:  witnefs  againO:  me,  therefore 
I  hate  thee  :  It  is  very  true,  it  cannot  be  otherwife.  Now 
our  defire  and  labour  is,  that  men  may  com.e  to  the  love 
of  the  truth  in  themfelves. 

You  know  there  are  a  great  many  other  minifters,  whofe 
labour  is  to  perfuade  people  to  believe  what  they  fay  ;  to 
lay  down  a  dodrine,  and  prove  it  by  fcripture  and  rea- 
fon,  and  fet  it  home  upon  their  minds  by  iuch  tefiimony 
as  the  fcripture  affords,  and  hereupon  thev  prevail  on  the 
minds  and  judgments  of  people,  to  beliv"  c  what  they  lay 
down. 

It  is  eafy  to  lay  down  a  pofition,  and  prove  it,  and 
convince  people  that  it  mud:  be  according  to  fcripture  ; 
but  when  a  perfon  is  convinced  of  a  principle  of  truth, 
he  is  not  regenerated  thereby,  and  com^e  to  God  ;  therefore, 
though  he  cannot  deny  the  dodrine  of  truth  in  words, 
yet  he  can  deny  it  in  works,   and  doih  not  rightly  come 

to 


Pure  and  Spiritual  Worship.  14^ 

to  love  it.  If  people  would  believe  what  we  fay,  and 
obferve  what  argument,  we  bring  to  prove  a  pofition, 
they  may  be  convinced  of  the  doctrine  of  truth,  and  come 
to  a  profefllon  of  it,  and  yet  be  ftrangers  to  it,  till  they 
come  to  love  it  in  themfelves  :  If  it  were  not  for  this,  we 
would  leave  preaching,  if  God  had  not  given  a  meafure 
and  manifeftation  of  the  fpirit  to  every  man  to  profit  withal. 
You  have  it  in  yourfelves,  we  are  but  as  monitors  to  you, 
to  put  you  in  mind  of  it  j  you  have  To  much  bufmefs  in 
the  world,  that  you  have  not  had  leifure  to  take  notice 
of  it. 

A  man  may  have  a  rich  jewel,    and  be   poor  notwith- 
ftanding,  till  he  come  to  know  the  value  of  it. 

A  man  hath  a  rich  and  precious  jev/el ;  a  pearl  beifoXvcd 
upon  him,  that  would  make  him  rich  in  faith  and  love 
to  God,  and  qualify  him  for  the  kingdom  of  God,  and 
make  him  an  heir  of  it  ;  but  he  knows  not,  nor  under- 
ftands  the  value  of  it,  and  efteems  it  notj  therefore  God 
hath  raifed  up  minifters  to  put  you  in  mind  of  it,  that 
you  may  be  happy  forever,  and  live  in  blelTednefs  to  all 
^Jet^rnity  ;  vj/iofoever  hath  an  ear  to  hear^  let  him  hear  ;  and 
when  they  hear  what  we  fay,  let  them  take  the  benefit  of  it 
to  their  own  fouls.  Wq  bring  not  truth  to  you,  but  God 
hath  beftowed  it  upon  you ;  you  will  be  rich  indeed,  if 
you  do  as  a  man  that  bought  a  field  where  the  precious 
pearl  was,  and  digged  till  he  found  it.  Come  to  the  foun- 
dation upon  which  you  Ihould  build  all  your  hopes  of 
happinefs,  and  depend  not  upon  your  own  works,  or  re- 
ligious performances,  for  acceptance  with  God  j  for  there 
Is  no  acceptance  with  God,  but  only  through  Chrift,  we 
""^^re  only  accepted  of  God  through  him.  Thofe  that  will 
become  Chriffians  indeed,  and  worfhip  God  as  he  hath  or- 
dained and  appointed  himfelf  to  be  worfhipped,  they  mufi; 
come  to  the  principle  of  light  and  grace  in  their  own  hearts, 
which  they  have  in,  and  through  Chrift,  and  they  will  find 
acceptance  with  God. 


SERMON 


SERMON      XIII. 

The  Divine  Life  of  Christ  Jesus. 

Freacked  at  GrACE-Church-Street,  March  iG,  i6j>r. 

TH  E  blefied  life  of  Chrift  is  not  of  this  world  ;  and 
it  ought  to  be  your  care  in  all  your  religious  af- 
femblies,  that  you  be  gathered  into  the  inward, 
feeling  fenfe,  of  this  divine  life  ;  that  you  may  feel  your 
feilowlhip  and  communion  in  that  life  of  Chrift  that  is  not 
of  this  v/orld.  And  may  all  of  you  lay  hold  upon  it  ;  for 
this  is  the  nourilhment  and  the  heavenly  bread,  with  which. 
the  children  of  the  klfigdom  are  fed  and  ncurifrcd  fiorn  day 
to  day  ;  there  are  many  that  feed  upon  words,  that  are 
not  the  children  of  the  kingdom  of  God  ;  but  the  begot- 
ten of  God  are  come  to  know  the  virtue  of  the  divine 
life,  Chrift  Jefus  ;  their  feeding  and  their  nourifliment  is 
by  every  word  that  proceedeth  out  of  the  mouth  of  God, 
and  they  grow  up  to  life  eternal  by  that  divine  and  hea- 
venly gift,  that  God  the  Father  hath  befto wed  upon  them, 
through  his  Son  Jefus  Chrift  ;  and  they  enjoy  the  com- 
munion of  faints,  through  this  divine  Head  of  the  Church, 
that  communicates  of  his  life  and  virtue  through  every  mem- 
ber, by  which  they  are  fandif.ed,  and  every  day  more  and 
more  prepc.red  for  that  living  and  eternal  inheritance  laid 
up  for  the  children  of  God. 

And  when  there  are  a  people  that  are  thus  gathered  in- 
to the  life  of  the  Lord  Je^us  Chrift,  they  are  able  to  draw 
nigh  to  God  j  they  feel  the  power  of  entrance,  becaufe 
their  ftn  is  removed  that  did  formerly  lie  at  the  door  ; 
and  the  way  is  opened  and  con^'^ecrated  for  them  to  draw 
nigh  and  partake  of  the  table  of  the  Lord,  by  which  they 
grow  ftronger  and  ftronger  in  his  might  and  power,  and 
are  thereby  enabled  to  perform  the  whole  will  of  God, 
and  that  divine  worfliip  and  religious  fervice,  which  God 
requireth  at   their  hands  in   their  day. 

For  it  is  very  certain,  and  we  have  found  it  by  expe- 
rience, that  the  word:>  of  our  Lord  to  his  difciples  of  old 

are 


The  Divine  Life  of  Christ  Jesus.  i^ij 

are  true  ;  ivithout  me  (faith  he)  ye  can  do  nothing.  For 
though  people  may  meet  together,  and  may  pretend  and 
fet  up  a  form  of  worfhip,  and  of  religion  in  their  own 
wills,  yet  it  all  amounts  to  nothing,  with  refped  to  ac- 
ceptance with  the  Lord  ;  there  is  no  return  in  their  fouls, 
no  addition  of  life,  nor  encreafc  and  growth  of  life  ;  they 
are  not  nearer  the  kingdom  than  when  they  firft  believed, 
but  many  times  further  oif ;  by  leaning  upon  a  formality, 
and  not  really  entering  into  the  work  of  God,  nor  tra- 
velling out  of  death  into  life  ;  for  there  muft  be  a  path, 
and  a  travelling  in  it ;  the  foul  muft  have  an  exercife  thro* 
the  power  and  hfe  of  Jefus,  for  the  overcoming  of  death, 
that  did  feparate  from  God,  and  a  preparing  for  life,  that 
life  that  unites  us  to  God  again  :  And  when  people  are 
in  earn  eft  in  this  travel,  they  are  refigned  up  to  the  go- 
vernment, diredion  and  leading  of  him  that  is  gone  before, 
that  hath  made  a  way  for  us,  and  will  further  our  progrefs 
towards  the  kingdom  of  God. 

And,  therefore,  my  friends,  you  know  the  way,  and 
know  how  the  power  hath  reached  to  you,  and  hath  opened 
your  underftandings  that  you  may  be  faithful  to  that  power 
in  your  own  fouls,  and  may  have  the  ufe  and  true  im- 
provement of  this,  and  all  other  fuch  meetings  as  this, 
for  the  gathering  of  your  minds  out  of  all  vifible  and  change- 
able objects,  unto  that  life  which  God  hath  revealed,  that 
fo  in  the  exercife  of  it,  you  may  hold  your  fellowihip  with 
God,  and  with  one  another ;  here  is  the  bond  of  perfedion, 
here  is  that  in  v/hich  God  hath  created  peace  and  reft,  and 
joy  for  his  people  ',  fo  far  as  every  one  is  partaker  of  this 
innocent  life,  and  feels  himfelf  changed  into  it,  they  are 
gathered  into  the  chjurch,  and  they  are  gathered  into  feliow- 
ihip  with  the  head  of  it,  and  are  comforted  in  their  member- 
fliip,  in  their  partaking  together. 

Though  I  be  but  a  little  one,  yet  I  partake  of  the  fame 
virtue  which  the  Lord  admin iftered  to  the  greateft  faints, 
while  I  am  a  waiting  upon  him,  and  of  the  fame  divine 
confolation,  and  operation,  and  power  that  weaneth  more 
and  more  from  the  world,  and  that  which  is  corruptible, 
and  raifeth  up  in  me  daily  more  and  more  fervent  dcfires 
after  that  bread  that  perifheth  not. 

Now 


1^0  The  Divine  Life  of  Christ  Jesus. 

Now  herein  men  and  women  have  an  evidence  of  that 
Chriftianity  in  themfelves,  the  Spirit  of  God  hearing  re- 
cord and  witneCs  with  their  Spirits,  which  all  the  loofe 
profefTors  of  Chriftianity  in  the  world  are  ftrangers  to,  their 
evidence  in  themfelves,  bein.g  againft  them  ;  they  feek  to 
have  evidence  without  them,  and  to  gather  up  Tome  kind 
of  marks  and  tokens,  and  fayings,  and  fentences,  from 
without  them,  to  make  them  believe  that  they  are  in  cove- 
nant with  God,  and  that  they  are  in  a  ftate  of  falvation 
by  Chrift  ;  but  he  that  truly  beUeveth,  hath  an  evidence  of 
his  Chrldianity,  and  of  his  reconciliation  with  God ;  and 
he  hath  this  evidence  in  himfelf,  a  divine,  fpiritual  teftimony 
that  anfwereth  to  his  own  fpirit,  that  witnefleth  to  him, 
that  he  is  one  of  the  children  of  God. 

And  my  friends,  to  this  you  are  called,  whether  you  are 
come  to  it  or  no  ;  it  is  this  you  are  called  to  with  a  heavenly 
call,  that  you  might  no  longer  live  in  the  rudiments  of  the 
world,  to  be  feeking  and  looldng  here  and  there,  for  a  ground 
of  peace  and  of  reft  j  a  ground  of  hope,  but  may  know  and 
feel  the  fame  thing,  the  fame  ground  of  eternal  hope  that 
the  faints  of  old  had  ;  what  is  that  ?  what  reafon  did  they 
give  and  render  of  their  hopes  of  eternal  glory  ?  The  apof- 
tle  tells  you  plainly  the  ground  or  reafon  of  their  hope  of 
being  glorified  in  the  world  to  come,  was  Chrift  in  them 
the  hope  of  glory.  They  witnelfed  that  Chrift  gave  his  hfe 
for  the  world.  Take  the  glorious  teftimony  that  the  apof- 
tle  did  bear  in  one  of  his  epiftles  ;  faith  he,  the  life  ivas 
7nanifeJ}ed  in  me  ;  it  was  not  covered  up  or  hidden,  that 
people  could  not  find  it;  God  was  pleafed  to  bring  it  to 
light  by  the  gofpel;  when  a  thing  is  brought  to  light,  you 
may  fee  it.  This  he  affirmed  in  his  day,  and  the  fame  is 
affirmed  in  our  day.  The  life  is  manifefted ;  what  life  ? 
Not  the  life  of  this  world,  but  a  life  not  defiled,  not  pol- 
luted, but  the  hfe  that  is  of  God,  a  heavenly  life  that  is  holy 
and  pure;  that  life  is  manifefted;  we  have  feen  it,  and  we 
exhort  all  to  lay  hold  of  it,  to  lay  hold  of  eternal  life  : 
Some  had  a  fight  of  it,  that  had  not  laid  hold  of  it ;  they 
faw  it  in  a  vifion,  and  they  might  fay  poffibly,  oh  that  I 
could  live  fuch  a  life,  that  there  were  no  fin  in  me,  in  my 
words,  or  thoughts,  or  actions,  what  a  gracious  life  would 

that 


The  Divine  Life  of  Christ  Jesus.  r^r 

that  be  !   They  had  feen  that  Ufe,  they  had  tafted  of  it,  but 
they  did  not  lay  hold  of  it,  but  let  it  go  by  them :  Take 
heed  of  that,  \(^hen  you  have  feen  it  with  open  eyes.     Blejjed 
are  your  eyes,  for  they  have  feen,  and  your  earSy  for  they  have 
heard,    faith   Chrift  to   his  difciples :    They  faw  that   life 
that  was  holy,  harmlefs  andundefiled.     Lay  hold  on  this  hfe, 
efpecially  when  you  are  thus  alTembled  together,  in  a  folemn 
manner  in  the  prefence  of  the  Lord,   waiting  to  behold  it, 
and  fee  it  more  and  more  difcovered  to  you,   and  labour  to 
have  that  gathering  f»ower   that  will  bring  you  to  it,   that 
you  may  know  the  ftrength  that  comes   by  it  to  the  foul. 
There  is  none  of  you,  but  what  will  meet  with  tempta- 
tions in  this  world,  that  will  draw  you  into  death  and  dark- 
nefs,   to   things   that  are  carnal,   and  fenfual,   and  devillfk 
fometimes.     How  ihall  I  ftand  if  I  be  not  centered  in  that 
life  that  was  before  the  world  began,  and  before  the  devil 
was  ?    If  I   labour   to    feel    the   influence  of    that    divine 
power,    that  is  able   to  keep   me,  my  faith  tells  me  fo  :  I 
know  that  power  is  able  to  keep  me,  if  I  keep  in  the  exer- 
cife  of  it.     The  truft  of  a  true  believer  is,  that  whatfoever 
temptations  and  trials  they  are  exercifed  with,  they  know  one 
already  come,   in  whom  they  have  triifledj  ivho  is  both  able 
and  luilling  to  deliver  them.     So  by  this  means  he  is  kept 
harmlefs,  and  innocent,  and  blamelefs  in  his  life  and  conver- 
fation.     Thus  you    might  be  kept,    if  you  would  regard, 
and  have  refped  to  the  life  that  is  manifefted  in  you. 

Whofover  comes  to  know,  and  feel  and  witnefs  in  their 
fouls  the  difcovery  and  revelation  of  the  life  of  Jefus, 
they  know  there  is  in  it  a  certain  dominion  over  that  which 
is  contrary  to  it ;  and  you  have  many  of  you  had  expe- 
rience of  the  exercife  of  the  power  of  God  in  your  own 
hearts,  that  hath  enabled  you  to  reign  over  thofe  things, 
that  have  formerly  ruled  over  you  :  That  you  can  now  fub- 
due  vain  thoughts,  and  evil  defires,  that  you  can  with- 
ftand  temptations  that  come  from  without,  and  from  with- 
in. Now  if  you  could  do  this,  and  if  ever  you  have  done 
it,  you  did  it  by  that  power  that  God  difcovered  and  reveal- 
ed in  you  from  Jefas  Chrift  :  You  had  not  fuch  hold  of  this 
once,  before  you  beUeved,  but  by  believing,  the  word  of 
God  fent  it  unto  you;  it  being  fixed  by  faith  in  the  heart, 

that 


i^z      "    The  Divine  Lite  of  Christ  Jesus. 

that  faith  which  is  of  the  operation  of  God :  You  could 
then  do  that  which  you  could  not  do  before,  and  forbear 
that  which  you  was  led  away  by.  Thefe  experiences  which 
God  hath  given  you,  fhould  encourage  you  to  hold  on  iri 
your  labour  and  travel,  and  engage  you  to  grow  in  the 
grace  of  Gody  and  in  the  knoivleclge  of  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrifl, 
Whatfoever  is  propounded  by  men  in  the  profefiion  of  re- 
ligion, this  ought  to  be  our  defign  and  end,  in  the  difcovery 
that  is  made  to  us  of  the  life  of  Chrift  j  that  we  may  grow 
in  it,  and  live  in  it;  (indeed  there  is  great  talking  of  it)  but 
wc  fliould  labour  to  fhew  forth  the  refurredion  of  that  life 
in  us. 

They  that  come  to  be  baptized  for  the  dead,  are  baptized 
into  the  death  of  Chrift;  the  apoftle  tells  you,  in  that  he 
died,  he  died  unto  fin.  There  are  none  baptized  for  the 
dead,  and  made  partakers  of  the  death  of  Chrift,  but  thofe 
that  died  unto  fin,  as  he  died.  Though  Chrift  had  no  fin, 
yet  he  died  unto  fin :  What  ufe  did  he  make  of  this,  that 
Chrift  knew  no  fin,  but  yet  did  take  our  fin  upon  him  ? 
He  died  unto  fin,  that  they  which  did  partake  of  his  deathy 
might  be  partakers  of  his  refurre6iion  :  He  liveth  again, 
and  after  death  rifeth  again. 

Thofe  that  partake  of  this  death  unto  fin,  are  crucified 
unto  this  world,  and  have  taken  up  Chrift's  crofs,  and  are 
dead  to  all  the  pleafures  and  delights  of  this  world,  which 
are  withered  away  and  come  to  nothing.  What  do  they 
live  to  now  ?  To  righteoufnefs,  holinefs,  chaftity,  tempe- 
rance ;  thefe  are  pleafant  to  them  ;  thefe  come  to  live 
to  righteoufnefs,  through  the  power  of  him  that  loved  them.' 
This  fhews  the  glory  and  the  power  of  the  grace  of  God. 
It  is  tne  grace  of  God  that  worketh  fuch  a  change  in  a 
man  or  woman.  They  that  delight  in  fin  and  wicked- 
nefs,  in  that  which  is  corrupt  and  ungodly,  they  have  no 
delis^ht  in  this,  no  delight  in  fobriety,  chaftity,  holinefs, 
and"  purity  of  mind.  In  whom  hath  it  wrought  fuch  a 
change  ?  In  all  that  are  freely  given  up  to  it.  Where 
anv  one  is  given  up  to  that  life,  the  grace  of  God  hath 
the  praife  of  it.  This  is  the  exaltation  and  praife  of  the 
power  of  God  ;  fo  that  others  may  find  by  this,  that  they 
jnay  by  it  come  to  believe,  and  by  beliving,  to  be  faved. 

Thus 


The  Divine  Life  of  Christ  Jesus,  ijtj 

Thus  the  gofpel  hath  gone  forth,  from  one  to  many, 
and  from  thele  to  many  more,  and  is  encreafing  more  and 
more  ',  for  grace,  mercy  and  peace,  are  multiplied,  by 
which  the  heritage  of  God,  and  To  every  man  and  woman 
that  partake  of  this  life,  are  gathered  into  fellowihip. 

So  that  your  end  in  coming  to  thefe  meetings,  is  not 
fo  much  to  hear  what  this,  and  that,  and  the  oiher  friend 
faith  ;  but  what  you-  have  in  yourfelves  to  witnefs  to  : 
The  divine  operations  of  the  power  of  God  in  your  fouls, 
bringing  down  fomething  that  is  to  be  brought  down,  and 
raifing  up  fomething  that  is  to  be  raifed.  Temptation  to 
fm  hath  more  prevalency  upon  me,  than  it  hath  upon  this, 
and  that,  and  the  other  man.  I  am  not  come  to  their 
degree,  yet  it  is  better  with  me  than  it  was  at  my  firft 
convincement.  If  thou  doft  fay  this  and  deceive  others,  cry 
to  God,  and  pray  earneftly  that  all  may  be  brought  down 
which  is  contrary  to  his  grace.  If  thou  fayeft  and  profefTeft 
this,  to  ftrengthen  that,  which  is  known,  by  the  light  of 
Chrift,  to  be  againft  the  truth  of  God,  if  at  the  fame  time 
there  is  a  deceitful  heart,  how  will  this  appear  at  the  great 
day  of  God  ?  The  eye  of  God  is  upon  thy  hypocrify  ; 
he  that  never  Jlmnbers  nor  Jleeps,  he  beholds  thee,  if  there 
be  any  fm  that  thou  wouldeft  keep  and  fave  alive.  If  thou 
makelt  a  profeflion,  and  notwithftanding  fayeft,  this  fm  I 
will  keep,  the  Lord  pardon  me  in  this  thing  ;  like  Naaman^ 
the  fervant  of  the  king  of  Affyria,  who  faid  to  the  pro- 
phet, r/zj  fervant  henceforth  vjill  neither  offer  burnt  offer- 
ingj  nor  facrifice  to  other  Gods,  but  unto  the  Lord,  In  this 
the  Lord  pardon  thy  fervafit,  that  when  my  mafier  goes  in- 
to  the  houfe  of  Rimmon  to  ivorfhip  'there,  and  he  leaneth  on 
my  hand,  and  I  bow  myfelf  in  the  houfe  of  Rimmon  ;  when 
I  bow  my f elf  in  the  houfe  of  Rimmon,  the  Lord  garden  thy 
fervant  in  this  thing.  He  knew  if  he  bowed  not,  the  king 
would  take  notice  of  the  alteration  of  his  gefture,  there- 
fore he  would  bow  in  the  houfe  of  Rtmrncn  :  That  fm 
he  would  fave  alive  under  a  profeflion  :  That  hypocrify 
the  Lord  did  abominate. 

Be  upright  in  the  fight  of  God,  and  be  faithful  to  your 
own  fouls  ;  if  it  be  fo,  then  every  fm  will  be  a  burthen, 
and  you  will  long  to  be  rid   of  it ;  if.  it  be  fo,  you  know 

U  whofe 


T54  *^'^^^  DiviN'E  Lite  of  Christ  Jesus. 

whole  hand  it  is  that  hath  brought  you  fo  far  ;  if  you  be 
really  cordial,  and  give  up  yourfelves  to  Jefus,  that 
uwrk  zvkic/i  he  hath  begun  in  you^  he  voill  finifti  fur  you. 
He  will  finiui  it  for  you,  ftand  out  with  him  in  nothing  ; 
give  up  yourfelves  to  him,  and  join  not  with  his  enemies  ; 
take  heed  of  hearkening  to  them  j  take  heed  of  every  fm 
that  will  at  lad  be  a  burthen  and  oppreifion  to  your 
fouls. 

But  if  you  live  this  heavenly  life  of  Jefus,  you  will 
be  fet  at  liberty,  to  have  dominion  over  fm,  and  to  (land 
without  guilt  before  the  throne  of  God.  Friends,  let  your 
hearts  be  deeply  affected  with  the  great  mercies  that  God 
hath  befrowed  upon  you,  and  for  his  gift  to  you  of  that  divine 
life  that  is  acceptable   in  his  fight. 

Many  things  have  been  done  upon  the  account  of  reli- 
gion, and  we  could  never  be  fatisfied  whether  they  were 
acceptable  to  God  ;  we  could  not  be  fatisfied  whether  we 
did  any  thing  pleaiiog  to  God  :  ^e  may  fay  of  them  as 
the  apoftle  Paul  did  of  the  Jeivlfn  facrifices,  there  remains 
a  confdence  of  fin ^  an  accufmg  conscience,  that  tells  us, 
that  guilt  is  not  removed,  nor  the  fin  taken  away,  till  the 
Lord  opens  this  divine  mvflery  to  us,  that  our  iufrifica- 
tion  mull  be  by  faith  in  Jefus  ;  that  nothing  could  recon- 
cile us  to  God  but  the  life  of  Jefus,  and  the  merit  of  his 
death. 

This  life  of  Jefus  was  a  holy,  blamelefs,  harmlefs,  and 
innocent  life,  which  life  he  guve  for  the  ivorld  ;  which  life 
is  the  light  of  men  ;  and  our  iouls  being  turned  to  this 
life,  we  fee  the  glory  and  the  excellency  of  it,  and  de- 
fires  are  kindled  m  our  hearts  after  it-  Many  have  pur- 
iued,  and  laboured,  and  travelled,  that  they  might  come  to 
the  enjoyment  of  it.  The  very  difcovery  of  this  life  ought 
to  be  highly  prized,  and  your  fouls  aftei5i:ed  with  it ;  and 
when  you  have  obtained  it,  you  will  fay,  O  !  v^hat  a  bleiTed 
condition  am  I  come  into  !  tliat  Chrift  hath  manifeiled  his 
divine  power  in  me,  not  only  in  reconciling  me  to  G^d, 
but  taking  awav  the  confcience  of  fin  ;  bv  that  aloiie  the 
accuier  is  cail  out,  and  I  may  now  i^no^  to  God,  iongs  of 
deliverance.  Now  you  tafre  of  the  m.ercies  that  God  hath 
bellowed  upon  vou ;  this  V7iii  affed  vour  fouls  with  a  child- 
like 


The  Divine  Lite  of  Christ  Jesus.  155 

like  fubmifTion  and  fubjedion  to  him,  that  hath  begun  to 
fave  and  deliver  you,  that  fo  you  may  refign  up  your- 
felves  to  his  will,  and  forfake  the  world,  and  the  things  of  it. 

Now  when  thefe  come  to  fuch  a  meeting  as  this,  their 
minds  may  be  retired,  and  they  may  be  fenfible  of  the 
power  of  truth  upon  their  hearts ;  but  for  want  of  keeping 
their  fubjeclion  to  the  divine  power,  that  hath  opened  their 
underftandings,  when  they  eome  into  the  world  again, 
they  are  enfnared  and  entangled,  and  many  times,  for  want 
of  watchfulnefs,  through  a  loofenefs  of  mind,  and  unru- 
linefs  of  tongue,  they  run  into  anger  and  paflion,  and  this 
grieves  the  Holy  Spirit  of  God.  And  how  lliould  you  come 
to  God  through  the  Mediator,  when  you  grieve  his  Spirit, 
and   quench  the  motions  of  it. 

Thefe  things  have  been  hurtful  to  many,  that  in  their 
time  might  have  been  pillars  in  the  houfe  of  God.  Take 
heed  of  this,  and  let  the  goodnefs  of  God  dwell  upon  your 
minds,  that  you  may  feel  and  experience  the  inward  admini- 
ftrations  of  it ;  there  are  many  that  are  much  afreded  with  the 
outward  miniftry,  and  are  very  defirous  to  hear  the  (ervants 
of  God  declare  the  things  that  God  hath  wrought  for 
them,  and  in  them,  and  the  wonderful  things  that  God  hath 
opened  to  them;  yet  when  you  have  heard  all  that  man 
can  fay  about  it,  if  the  divine  miniftry  of  the  word  of 
God  doth  not  make  powerful  impreinons  upon  you,  and 
fanclify  and  renew  your  fouls,  the  outward  miniftry  of  the 
word   will   do  you   no  good. 

Now  that  you  may  be  eftabliftied  in  the  truth  that  you 
have  been  taught,  this  teftimony  arifeth  in  me,  to  defire 
every  one  to  heed  and  attend  to  the  manifeftation  of  this 
life  of  Jefus  in  yourfelves.  Whatfoever  God  hath  beftow- 
ed  upon  me  or  another,  you  may  perifti  for  all  that,  and 
I  am  not  the  better  for  what  God  hath  beftowed  upon 
you,  but  may  perifti  notwithftanding ;  but  that  God  hath 
manifefted  eternal  life  to  my  foul,  let  that  be  every  ones 
centre :  This  will  make  you  holy  and  blamelefs;,  and  pre- 
ferve  you  in  every  ftate,  and  in  the  hour  of  temptation, 
and  in  the  midft  of  fnares ',  this  will  be  a  bulwark  to  you ; 
this  will  be  as  the  walls  of  Zion,  which  is  the  falvation 
of  the  Lord.     That  fo  you  may  be  preferved  fenfible  of 

the 


15^  Tke  Kingdom  of  God  within. 

the  goodnefs  of  the  Lord  :  That  grace,  mercy,  and  peace 
may  be  m.ultiplied  in  your  bofoms ;  this  will  make  you 
dear  and  affedionate  one  to  another. 

Though  there  may  be  an  external  fellowfhip  among  thofe 
that  preach  and  profess  the  fame  dodrine,  yet  when  they 
come  off  from  that,  when  once  men  depart  from,  the  power 
of  truth,  they  grow  ftubborn  and  rebellious;  but  when 
men  come  to  be  gathered  into  the  inward  fellowfhip  that 
frands  not  in  terms  and  words,  but  in  the  revelation  of 
Chrift,  and  in  the  participation  of  his  virtue  and  goodnefs; 
the  m.orc  you  are  united  in  this,  the  more  you  are  knit 
one  to  another,  and  become  ufeful  and  helpful  one  to' 
another. 

The  Lord  vouchfafe  to  every  one  of  you  a  tafte  of 
his  goodnefs,  and  you  will  prefer  it  above  all  that  the 
devil  has,  and  his  inflruments  can  preient  ;  and  if  you  re- 
tire more  into  this  heavenly  and  divine  life  of  Jefus,  you 
Will  feel  and  enjoy  more  peace  and  fatisfadion,  and  true 
comolation  in  your  iouls,  than  I,  or  any  man  in  the  world 
can  tell  you, of. 

SERMON      XIV. 
The  Kingdom   of  God    within. 

Preached   at    Grace-Church-Street,  My    26^    i6s)i. 

7"  O  U  have  read  and  heard  much  concerning  the  day 
of  the  Lord,  as  a  great  and  notable  day;  many  of 
you  are  now  living  witneffes  that  the  great  and  not- 
able day  of  the  Lord  is  coming,  in  which  the  accomplifli- 
ment  of  great  and  notable  things,  the  mighty  works  of  God, 
which  have  been  propheded  of,  may  be  lawfully  expeded. 
It  is  the  work  of  every  Chriftian  to  wait  upon  the  Lord  in 
the  light  of  this  day,  and  to  be  acquainted  with  the  works  of 
the  Lord,  both  inwardly  and  out^^ardly  ;  for  the  day  of  the 
Lord  !s  a  day  of  power,  and  that  power  of  God  work- 
eth  wonderful  things ;  and  if  we  are  not  kept  in  the  light 
of  that  day,  the  Lord  may  work  great  things,  and  we  not 

know 


The  Kingdom  of  Gov  within.  r^y 

know  it ;  we  fhall  be  looked  upon  as  carelefs  and  negligent 
witnefles  of  the  works  of  the  Lord,  as  thofe  that  do  not 
regard  them.  If  you  would  be  faithful  witnefles,  you  muft 
have  regard  to  the  works  of  the  Lord,  and  the  operations 
of  his  hands.  One  that  is  minded  to  be  a  faithful  witnefs,  he 
will  take  notice  of  what  is  faid  and  done ;  you  are  called  to 
be  witnefTes  of  the  works  of  the  Lord  Je^us  Chrift,  and  of 
his  doings  ;  you  muft  ftand  where  }  ou  may  hear,  and  fee, 
and  underftand  what  the  Lord  is  about  to  do  at  this  time. 

In  teftimony  and  wicneis  bearing,  the  greateft  thing 
we  have  to  exped  in  this  day  of  the  Lord,  is,  that  God 
will  fet  up  the  kingdom  of  his  Son  Chrift  Jefus ;  and  unto 
this  all  the  prophets  did  bear  witnefs  in  their  time,  and  now 
it  is  our  turn  to  bear  witne^^^s  of  it,  by  (enfible  and  living 
experiences  of  the  accomplilhment  of  thofe  things  that  they 
prophefied  of,  that  the  Lord  will  fet  up  the  kingdom  of  * 
Chrift,  and  bring  down  and  lay  wafte  the  kingdom  of  Anti- 
chrift.  This  our  Saviour  taught  his  dilciples  to  pray  for,  more 
than  fixteen  hundred  years  ago,  that  the  kingdom  of  God 
might  come  ;  and  all  the  true  difciples  of  Chrift  ever  fmce 
have  prayed  for  the  coming  of  this  kingdom,  and  many  of 
them  have  feen  the  coming  of  ^t,  and  rejoiced  ;  and  others 
have  died  in  the  faith  of  it,  and  have  been  gathered  into  the 
kingdom  of  Heaven. 

But,  my  friends,  that  which  chiefly  concerns  us  at  this 
day,  is  to  behold  the  kingdom  of  Chrift,  the  eternal  Son 
of  God,  within  us,  to  go  forward  and  profper  ;  and  the 
kingdom  of  Antichrift  luppreiTed  and  deftroyed,  and  utterly 
laid  wafte  ;  and  this  is  wrought  two  ways,  firft,  inwardly ; 
fecond,  outwardly. 

Firft,  inwardly  ,•  there  is  a  great  inclination  in  the  minds  of 
people,  to  look  more  at  the  operation  of  God's  power  in 
this  great  work  outwardly,  than  to  look  at  it  inwardly, 
but  unto  that  there  muft  be  a  daily  crofs  taken  up,  and 
it  is  my  bufmefs  at  this  time  to  tell  you  in  the  name  of 
the  Lord,  that  your  dutv  and  mine  is  to  turn  our 
minds  to  the  working  of  the  power  of  God  in  ourfelves, 
and  to  fee  that  other  kingdom  of  the  man  of  ftn  weakened 
and  brought  dov/n  within  us ;  then  there  is  no  fear  but  he 
will  carry  on  his  work  outwardly,  and  we  ftiall  fee  as  much 

of 


1^8  The  Kingdom  of  God  within. 

of  that  work  as  belongs  to  our  generation  ;  but  the  great 
matter  and  chief  government  of  you  and  me,  is  to  fee  the 
kingdom  of  God  let  up  within  us,  which  ftands  in  holinefs 
and  righteouiners  :  Our  bufinefs  is  to  walk  till  we  fee  the 
righteoufnefs  of  this  kingdom  fet  up  within  us,  in  our  hearts 
and  fouls,  and  to  have  a  real  change  made. 

We  all  know,  and  we  mud:  confefs,  that  we  have  been 
fubjed;  to  the  man  of  fm,  whatfoever  we  are  now.  We 
have  feen  the  reign  and  government,  the  rage  and  tyranny 
of  the  wicked  one,  that  hath  \qA  us  into  rebellion  and  dif- 
obedience  to  the  Lord  our  Maker.  How  do  we  Hke  that 
government,  to  be  ruled  by  the  devil,  and  to  be  led  cap- 
tive, and  to  be  made  to  do  his  will,  and  to  rebel  againft 
God  that  gave  us  our  life,  and  breath,  and  being  ?  How 
do  we  like  the  government  of  fatan  ?  I  hope  we  do  none 
of  us  like  it.  It  was  fo  with  mie  ;  and  they  that  are  un- 
der the  tyrannical  government  of  fatan,  have  many  cries 
and  wilhes  in  their  iouls,  that  they  were  freed  and  deli- 
vered from  it,  and  brought  under  the  governmicnt  an4 
obedience  of  Chrift  Jefus  ;  and  that  they  were  able  to 
ferve  God  as  they  ought  to  do,  that  they  might  be  tranf- 
lated  from  the  kingdom  of  fm  and  fatan,  into  the  king- 
dom of  the   bleiTed   and  dearly  beloved  Son  of  God. 

This  hath  been  the  cry  of  fome  ever  fince  they  have 
known  the  word  ;  and  I  am  perfuad'ed  it  is  the  cry  of 
many  at  this  day.  I  have  good  news  to  bring  you  ;  not 
that  the  day  of  your  redemption  draws  nigh,  but  that  it 
is  come  j  the  day  of  redemption  is  now  comie,  and  there 
are  a  great  many  blefiing  and  glorifying  the  name  of  God 
that  they  are  redeemed,  and  delivered  from  the  bondage 
of  corruption  ',  and  have  more  joy  and  delight  in  the  fer- 
vice  of  God,  that  made  them,  than  ever  they  had  in  the 
fervice  of  the   God  of  this  world. 

But  may  not  fome  fay,  how  iliall  this  great  work  be 
wrought  ? "  For  it  is  a  great  work,  and  we  verily  think 
that  nothing  but  an  Almighty  Power  can  eftecl  it.  For 
there  are  many  in  this  afTem.bly  have  been  trying  to  no 
purpofe,  and  done  what  they  could  in  their  own  ftrength, 
to  deliver  their  own  fouls  from  death,  and  yet  they  find 
themfclves  in  bondage  ftill ;   nay,  they  have  called  in  the 

help 


The  Kingdom  of  God  ivhfiin.  i^^ 

help  and  afififtance  of  thofe  that  they  thought  to  be  ftronger 
than  themfelves,  and  all  have  failed,  and  they  are  yet  weak 
and  entangled,  and  they  cannot,  find  themfelves  at  liberty 
to  ferve  the  Lord  as  they  ought  to  do. 

I  am  of  this  mind,  that  nothing  but  the  Almighty  Power 
of  God  can  do  it;  and  when  you  have  come* to  m.y  ex- 
perience, to  know  this  as  I  have  done,  then  I  hope  you 
will  feck  after  that,  and  you  will  fee  good  reafon  for  it ; 
and  you  will  then  come  to  this  profeiTion,  if  the  Lord 
puts  not  forth  his  Almighty  Power,  I  mud  then  periin, 
for  there  is  no  other  power  can  deliver  me.  When  you 
come  to  know  this,  what  muft  you  do  ?  "^'hy  you  mufi: 
wait  for  the  revelation  of  that  po\{'er  that  will  take  you 
oif  from  all  truft  and  confidence  that  you  have  ever  had 
in  any  thing  elfe  :  A  m.an  that  hath  nothing  to  trufi:  to 
but  the  Almighty  Power,  and  mercy,  and  goodnefs  of  God, 
he  puts  his  whole  truft  and  confidenee  therein,  or  eiie  he 
knows  he   muft  perifh. 

When  a  man  or  woman  comes  to  this  pafs,  that  they 
have  nothing  to  rely  upon  but  the  Lord,  then  they 
will  meet  together  to  wait  upon  the  Lord :  And  this 
was  the  firft  ground  or  m.otive  of  our  fetting  up  .meet- 
ings ',  and  I  would  to  God  that  this  was  the  ufe  that 
every  one  would  make  of  them  that  come  to  them., 
th^n  they  v/ould  be*  juftly  and  properly  ufed,  according 
to  the  end  of  the  inftitution  of  them  at  firft  y  we  ihould 
ufe  them  as  poor  defolate  helplefs  people  that  are  brok- 
en off  from  all  their  own  confidence  and  truft,  and  have 
nothing  to  rely  upon  but  the  mercy  and  goodnefs  of  God ; 
and  if  he  pleafeth  to  reveal  nis  power  among  us,  v/e  know 
that  he  is  able  to  fave  us.  And  when  we  have  met  with 
the  revelation  of  God's  power,  and  we  have  me:  to- 
gether in  fimplicity  of  mind,  the  Lord  was  pleaded  to  comx- 
municate  his  Spirit  to  us,  and  open  a  door  for  us,  and 
difcover  and  reveal  to  us  that  it  was  the  day  of  his  power: 
And  when  we  came  to  examine  ourfelves  whether  we  were 
willing  in  this  day  of  God's  power  (for  the  prophet  gives 
us  a  note  of  diftindtion  between  the  people  of  God,  and 
other  people ;  thy  people  Jhall  be  wdliv^  in  the  day  of  thy 
j)Giver  ^  v/hich  is  as  much  as  to  fay,  when  God  difcovers  and 

reveals 


jSo  Tfze  Kingdom  of  God  within, 

reveals  his  power  to  them,  fuch  a  people  are  willing  to 
give  themfelves  over  to  the  government  of  it  j  when  we 
found  Ve  were  iubjed  to  it,  we  had  joy  in  believing, 
before  we  attained  the  end  of  our  hopej  it  was  gladnefs 
to  us  we  found  ourfeives  willing ;  and  I  am  perfuaded  that 
every  one  of  you  would  be  glad  to  find  yourfelves  willing 
to  part   with   that  which  \  ou   cry  out  againft. 

■^hat  a  cry  is  there  of  our  bondage  and  corruption, 
and  of  our  being  led  captive  by  our  iufts.  We  may  heai 
fuch  a  cry  from  one  end  of  the  kindgom  to  the  other  : 
People  cry  out  of  the  bondage  of  corruption,  and  of  their 
fubjedion  to  fm  and  iatan  :  I  would  they  were  in  earneft; 
there  is  not  that  earneftnefs  and  reality  in  men  and  women 
that  God  looks  for,  and  fo  there  comes  nothing  of  it. 
There  is  no  redemption,  and  no  deliverance j  the  Lord 
doth  not  hear  them,  though  they  come  now  a-days  into 
his  prefence,  to  offer  up  their  prayers.  I  would  have  you 
to  be  in  good  earned,  I  wilh  well  to  you  ail  j  and  it 
would  be  hard  to  fay  that  vou  do  not  wiih  well  to  your- 
felves. Here  lies  your  welfare,  that  you  find  yourfelves 
willing  to  be  rubjccl:  to  the  power  that  made  you  ',  you 
have  been  lAibject  doubtlefs  to  the  power  that  deftroyed  you; 
that  power  that  never  gave  you  life  and  breath,  and  would 
be  inilrumental  of  your  deftrudion  :  The  power  of  the  God 
of  this  world  never  did  men  good^  but  defrroyed  thcyii, 
deceived  them,  and  deprived  them  of  their   lives. 

Now  if  there  was  but  a  wiUingnefs  in  every  one  of  us, 
freely  to  give  up  ourfelves  to  that  power  that  created  us, 
to  obey  his  will,  I  am  fure  there  is  never  a  man  or  wo- 
man among  us  fhouid  long  be  without  the  knowledge  of  it. 
If  I  am  but  willing  to  be  fubjecl  to  the  law  of  him  that 
made  me,  it  will  not  be  long  before  he  difcover  it  to  me, 
and  reveal  his  power  in  me  in  the  glory  and  excellency 
of  it ',  that  power  which  is  more  able  to  preferve  me,  than 
all  the  power  of  men  on  earth,  or  all  the  po^y/er  of  the 
devils  in  hell  is  able  to  deftroy  me.  W^hcn  the  Lord  fhall 
difcover  and  reveal  his  power  in  you,  you  will  be  willing 
to  be  fubjecl  to  it. 

But  methinks  the  found  and  ncife  of  ficfh  and  blood 
grows  loud  here:  I  would  be  fubjcct  to  God,  but  I  would 

not 


The  Kingdom  of  God  ivithln,  jGi 

not  have  him  crofs  mine  intereft,  and  deprive  me  of  that 
I  love  and  thirft  after  j  I  would  not  have  him  imbitter 
my  carnal  delights  and  pleafures,  and  undo  me  as  to  my 
reputation  in  the   world. 

You  may  fee  whence  this  comes,  that  you  would  make 
a  bargain,  and  draw  a  contract  with  the  God  of  your  lives 
about  thefe  things^  this  is  a  nonfenfical  thing;  becaufe  of 
all  people  in  the  world,  you  are  a  people  that  have  had 
a  veneration  for  the  holy  fcriptures,  the  fcriptures  of  truth, 
and  have  been  acquainted  with  them  as  familiarly  as  v/ith 
any  book  in  the  world,  wherein  you  find  articles  drawn, 
long  ago  fixed  and  fealed  ',  and  no  new  ones  are  to  be  drawn. 
If  any  one  will  be  my  difciple,  Johii  or  Tkojnas,  James  or 
Peter,  or  whofoever  he  be,  he  muft  take  up  his  daily  crofs, 
and  deny  himfelf,  and  follow  me.  Nov/  here  is  a  con- 
trad  made,  therefore  turn  afide  from  all  kind  of  reafon- 
ing  and  confulting  with   flefh  and  blood. 

If  you  will  become  fpiritual,  and  partake  of  fpiritual 
blefTmgs  and  benefits,  I  would  advife  you  to  turn  from 
all  kind  of  reafonings  that  come  from  the  pit  of  dark- 
nefs,  that  hath  thus  far  deceived  you,  and  will  ruin  you 
forever,  if  you  hearken  to  them.  For  alTure  yourfelves, 
new  gofpel-terms  no  man  can  make  ;  and  if  any  come  to 
preach  new  gofpel-terms,  count  him  a  deceiver  ;  for  there 
is  no  poffibility  of  being  a  difciple  of  Chrift,  but  by  tak- 
ing up  a  daily  crofs,  and  denying  ourfelves,  and  follow- 
ing him  as  our  leader  and  guide.  To  him  I  muft  go, 
and  go  in  no  other  way,  fpeaking  nothing,  and  doing 
nothing  but  what  is  holy  and  pure  ;  he  muft  condud  me 
in  my  walking,  guide  me  in  my  way,  and  juftify  me  in 
it.     This  is  to  be  a  true   difciple  of  Chrift. 

As  foon  as  he  comes  to  adhere,  and  join  to  the  power 
of  God  revealed  in  his  foul,  he  fees  the  coming  of  the 
kingdom  of  God  ;  he  fees  it  at  a  diftance  ;  he  faith  within 
himfelf,  and  makes  this  conclufion,  I  will  follow  my  cap- 
tarn  ;  I  will  become  fubjed  to  the  kingdom  of  Chrift. 
If  I  obey  this  divine  principle  of  the  grace  of  God,  and 
the  gofpel  of  Chrift,  I  ftiall  be  his  difciple.  I  read  in  his 
blefled  book,  that  as  many  as  are  led  by  the  Spirit  of 
God,  are  the  children  of  God.     I  am  not  to  propo-^'e   new 

X  terms. 


j6z  The  KlNGT>OM  of  GoT>   xvlthin, 

terms,  but  to  accept  of  the  old  terms  of  the  gofpel  of 
ChriO:.  I  fee  that  the  kingdom  of  God  is  to  be  let  up, 
and  the  kingdom  of  the  devil  to  be  brought  down  in  me; 
if  I  fojiow  this  divine  principle,  I  fhall  never  follow  the 
devil  more  ,  if  he  v/ould  have  me  lye,  I  fhall  refufe,  and 
fav  I  cannot  j  if  he  would  have  me  run  into  vain  and 
corrupt  communication,  and  fooliHi  jelling,  that  will  be  a 
bridle   to   me,  that  I   cannot  do  it. 

I  rpeak  now 'to  persons  that  live  under  the  light  of  the 
gofpd  of  Chrift,  and  that  are  fubdued  by  his  grace  ;  I 
would  fpeak  that  which  all  the  logic  in  the  world  cannot 
overthrow  j  that  which  the  mod:  cunning  logician,  with 
all  his  wit  and  quirks,  cannot  refute  and  pr:we  erroneous. 
If  a  m.an  be  led  by  the  Spirit  of  God,  he  cannot  lye  ; 
this  is  a  common  cure  for  all  men  ',  if  I  be  led  by  the 
Spirit  of  Truth,  and  hearken  to  the  principle  of  truth  in 
my  own  foul,  this  will  cure  and  heal  me  of  the  wounds 
and  maladies  of  my  corrupt  nature,  and  fet  me  at  liberty 
from  my  old  mafter  ;  I  do  not  like  his  fervice. 

I  hope  if  any  of  you  like  the  fervitude  and  bondage  of, 
fin  and  fatan,  you  will  defu*e  liberty  before  you  die:  Why 
do  not  you  defire  it  now?  It  may  be  thou  thinkefl:  to 
enjoy  a  little  liberty,  and  reputation,  and  pleaiure  in  fm  for 
many  years,  for  fix  or  feven,  nine  or  ten  years,  and  then 
break  olF  from  it,  and  repent  and  turn  to  God :  How  doft 
thou  know  that  thou  haft  ten  days  to  live  ?  It  is  of  high 
concernment  to  every  one  of  us  to  wait  for  a  difcovery  of 
gofpel  liberty,  and  an  ability  and  power  in  his  foul,  to 
enable  him  to  break  off  from  the  fervitude  and  bondage  of 
fin  and  fatan,  that  he  hath  fo  long  lived  under  ;  and  to 
\:/?\t  upon  God  with  patience,  for  the  iettmg  his  (oul  at 
liberty,  and  fetting  up  the  kingdom  of  Chrift  within  him, 
and  pulling  down  the  kingdom  of  fatan,  that  he  may  be 
brought  into  the  kingdom  of  Chrift,  that  confifts  in  peace 
and  rtghteoufncfs^  mid  joy  in  the  Holy  Gh'Ji,  Thefe  are 
the  things  that  follow  one  another  j  when  righteou'neGs  is 
fet  up  in  me,  I  Ihall  not  be  difturbed,  I  (hall  have  peace ; 
and  if  I  have  peace  I  (hall  have  joy,  and  this  joy  is  in 
the  Holy  Ghoft;  the  apoftle  faith  the  kingdom  of  God 
coniifts  in  thefe  things. 

Now 


The  Kingdom  of  God  within,  16'^ 

Now  that  every  one  might  be  perfuaded  that  God  hath  - 
given  a  meafuVe  of  his  grace  to  them,  as  well  as  to  other 
folks,  let  them  confider  and  fay  within  themrelves,  God 
hath  not  ihut  me  out  of  the  number  of  his  people  :  He 
hath  knocked  at  the  door  of  my  heart,  to  bring  me  to  re- 
pentance j  he  hath  waited  upon  me  fo  long,  furely  he  hath 
a  mind  to  fave  me  :  Would  he  call  upon  me,  had  he  not 
intended  I  ihould  repent  and  turn  to   him  ? 

But  where  is  the  power  ?  you  will  fay ;  knocking  at  the 
door  of  the  heart,  and  checks  of  confcience,  we  underftand 
them  ;  but  we  underftand  not  where  the  power  is,  to  be 
conformable   to   the  will  of  God. 

People  will  never  underftand  it  while  they  are  in  the 
kingdom  of  fatan,  and  under  the  power  of  the  prince  of 
darknefs  ;  the  apoftle  tells  us,  that  the  God  of  this  world 
hath  blinded  the  minds  of  them  that  believe  noty  left  the  light 
of  the  glorious  gofpel  of  Chrijt,  'who  is  the  image  of  G.l^ 
fhoiild  ffiine  upon  them.  If  m.en  faw  the  beauty  of  the  gof  ?1, 
they  would  run  after  it,  and  embrace  it  j  therefore  he 
devil  blinds  their  minds,  that  they  fhould  not  fee  the  bei  ^cy 
and  amiablenefs .  of  the  gofpel,  and  like  the  terms  of  it : 
He  hath  the  rule  and  government  of  the  children  of  difobe- 
dience.  So  long  as  I  live  in  fubjediion  to  that  devililh,  hel- 
lifh  power,  which  leads  me  forth  into  fm,  I  fhall  be  a 
ftranger  to  God's  power,  that  would  enable  me  to  break 
off  from  it. 

You  never  read  in  fcripture  of  any  that  ever  came  to  be 
faved  by  the  power  of  God,  but  there  was  faith  mixed  with 
it,  that  came  to  join  with  that  power  of  God.  Our  Saviour 
faid  to  the  impotent  man,  thy  faith  hath  made  thee  whole  ; 
thy  faith  joining  with  that  power  of  God  :  IVe  fliau  he 
made  fir  ong  in  the  Lord,  and  in  the  power  of  his  might,  and 
be  able  to  withftand  temptations. 

As  foon  as  the  foul  of  man  joins  with  the  grace  of  God, 
he  doth  forfake  the  fervice  of  his  old  mafter  and  governor  ; 
Sin  (hail  no  longer  have  dominion  over  him  ',  though  he  may  ' 
m.eet  with  the  fame  temptation,  it  ihall  not  have  the  fame 
power  over  him,  but  he  will  be  enabled  by  the  grace  of  God 
to  withftand  it,  and  overcome  it.  If  you  ask  fuch  a  man, 
how  it  is  that  he  ovaxomes  that  temptation  that  formerly 

prevailed 


j^^^  The  Kingdom  of  Gob  within. 

prevailed  over  him,  he  will  tell  you,  I  have  now  an  helper, 
I  am  now  ioined  to  the  grace  of  God  in  my  foul,  therefore 
do  I  withiland  temptations,  and  have  power  over  them. 
Thus  '^omes  the  kingdom  of  Chrifl  to  be  fet  up  in  the  foul, 
and  this  is  that  which  will  fit  and  prepare  us  for  the  everlaft- 
ing  king'lom  of  God.  They  that  do  wait  upon  God,  fhall 
fee  this  work  wrought  inwardly  in  them,  the)  know  more 
by  faith  than  they  can  fee  by  fenie. 

1  know,  and  am  certain,  that  the  power  the  devil  hath 
in  the  world,  fhall  be  broken  down,  and  righteoufnefs  ihall 
be  exalted,  and  juftice  and  equity  fhall  prevail  in  the  nations. 
I  liiall  not  perhaps  live  to  fee  it,  but  I  may  iee  it  bv  faith  j 
I  have  feen  enough  for  my  generation,  and  they  that  live 
in  the  next  generation,  ihall  fee  it  alfo ;  for  the  church  of 
God  is  the  fam_e  from  one  generation  to  another.  Now  unto 
US  it  is  given  to  ■  ee  the  things  that  in  former  generations  were 
prophelied  of,  God  having  (faith  the  apoftle)  provided  feme- 
better  thing  for  usy  that  they  without  us  fhall  not  he  made 
lierfe'i. 

The  church  of  God  from  one  generation  to  another,  have 
their  meafure  and  degree  of  fervice,  and  bear  their  proper 
tefcimony,  and  leave  the  reft  to  fucceeding  generations :  It 
concerns  us  in  our  generation  to  fee  a  change  made  inv/ardly 
in  our  fouls,  and  the  kingdom  of  Chrift  fet  up  within  us, 
and  the  kingdom  of  fatan  brought  down  in  ourfelves.  This 
doth  not  concern  mv  fon  or  erandfon  onlv,  but  it  concerns 
me,  and  when  they  grow  up  to  mature  age,  in  their  time  it 
will  concern  them  :  Therefore  that  which  is  m.oft  profitable 
to  us,  is,  that  we  have  fuch  a  ftation,  and  ftand  in  fuch  a 
place  in  our  time,  where  we  may  fee  the  work  of  God  car- 
ried on. 

I  have  confidcred,  many  a  time,  that  there  are  many 
brave  men  and  women  in  this  a^e,  that  mieht  have  been 
eminent  witnelfes  of  God  in  this  world,  and  borne  their  tef- 
timxony  to  his  truth,  but  their  faith  hath  been  weak  and  in- 
etFcdual  :  They  have  difcovered  their  unbeheving  hearts, 
and  have  joined  with  the  common  herd  of  the  world,  be- 
caufe  they  thought  fuch  great  things  could  never  be  done, 
that  the  kingdom  of  fatan  could  never  be  pulled  down  and 
deftroyed,  and    the    kingdom   of  Chrift  fet  up  within    us, 

but 


The  Umdeftled  Way,  &c.  i(% 

but  I  would  hope  better  things  of  you,  things  that  accom- 
pany falvation  ;  and  that  he  that  hath  begun  a  good  work 
in  you,  will  carry  it  on  to  perfed:ion  ;  that  living  praifes, 
and  joyful  thankfgivings,  may  be  rendered  to  him  who  alone 
is  worthy,  who  is  God  over  all,  bleflTed  forever ;  to  whom 
be  glory  and  dominion  forever,  and  ever.     Amen. 

SERMON      XV. 
The  Undefiled  Way  to  Eternal  Rest. 

Freacked  at  DEVON SHlRE-HouSE^  July  29,    i6pr. 

^yyiy  yriends, 

TH  E  Lord  will  be  with  all  his  people,  that  are  unde- 
filed in  the  way,  that  are  fpiritual  travellers  walk- 
ing in  that  undefiled  way,  that  leads  to  an  undefiled 
reft.  There  are  fome  that  by  this  way  are  entered  into  reft, 
that  reft  which  God  hath  prepared  for  them.  We  cannot 
apply  to  ourfelves  that  promife  that  is  made  to  us  of  enter- 
ing into  reft,  unlefs  we  be  real  and  true  travellers  in  the  way 
that  leads  to  it,  for  if  we  do,  ive  deceive  our  own  fouls. 

Therefore  you  that  have  had  a  fight  and  vifion  of  the 
way  everlafting,  that  leads  unto  a  holy  reft,  you  are  an  engag- 
ed people  to  make  ftrait  fteps  therein,  and  to  have  it  your 
daily  care,  and  make  it  your  continual  bufinefs,  to  look 
that  your  goings  and  foot-fteps  are  of  the  fame  nature  and 
kind  that  the  reft  is  that  you  defire  to  enter  into  :  For  it  is 
an  undefiled  reft,  that  we  all  are,  or  ought  to  be  travelling 
after  ;  therefore  every  one  of  us  muft  be  undefiled  in  the 
way,  and  every  foot-ftep  muft  be  of  the  fame  kind  and 
nature,  and  feparate  from  all  that  which  defileth  it  and  pol- 
luteth  it  ',  that  fo  it  may  have  a  tendency  to  the  bringing 
of  the  foul  nearer  to  its  reft. 

This  holy  reft  many  travellers  have  attained  by  this  holy 
travel,  and  many  are  ftill  in  hope  to  attain  it. 

But  now  they  that  are  full  of  hope  of  attaining  this  reft, 
their  foot-fteps  and  goings  are  not  of  the  fame  nature  and 

kind  ; 


i66  The  Undetiled  Way 

kind  ;  they  are  not  holy  and  pure,  they  are  not  undefJed  * 
Thefe  have  not  their  faces  truly  Zio/z-ward,  though  the  face 
of  their  profeflion  may  (land  that  wav  ',  but  the  Lord  looks 
at  the  heart  of  every  one,  and  he  knows  which  way  the 
heart  (lands  y  they  who  have  their  hearts  truly  turned  to  the 
Lord,  they  have  the  mark  of  holinefs  in  their  eye,  and  the 
mark  of  purity  and  righteoufnefs  in  all  their  undertakings, 
becaufe  they  know  there  is  no  attaining  to  that  divine  reft, 
but  by  a  holy  way  and  travel  ;  therefore  their  truft  and  re- 
liance  is  alone  on  the  Lord,  that  is  to  keep  them  in  all  their 
way  ;  for  if  they  be  ever  fo  clearly  convinced  that  holinefs 
and  righteoufnefs  is  their  duty,  and  is  the  way  whereby  they 
may  attain  to  the  kingdom  of  God,  though  they  are  ever  fo 
fully  convinced  of  it,  yet  there  lies  an  impofTibility  of  any 
walking  therein  v/ithout  the  divine  afliftance  of  the  grace  of 
God  ;  for  though  they  have  been  convinced  by  the  appear- 
ance of  his  grace,  and  have  had  a  light  that  openeth  to  them 
a  fight  of  theie  things,  it  is  not  this  fight  and  vifion  that  will 
enable  them  to  run  the  race  that  is  fet  before  them. 

For  the  manifold  impurities  and  hindrances  which  are  in 
our  way,  between  our  coming  out  of  Egypt's  land,  the 
bondage  of  corruption,  and  our  entering  into  the  kingdom 
of  God,  are  too  mighty  and  too  great  for  any  man  with  his 
knowledge  and  ftrength  to  overcome.  The  children  of 
Ifrael  might  as  well  have  gone  through  the  Red  Sea,  without 
the  help  of  God,  as  the  Chriftian  traveller  can  go  through 
the  many  difficulties,  and  the  many  impediments  that  he  is 
to  meet  with  in  his  way,  without  the  afliftance  of  God's 
Holy  Spirit. 

Mv  friends,  it  hath  been  a  labour  and  travel  at  this  time 
Upon  my  mind,  that  all  whom  God  hath  fo  fignally  blefled 
with  the  knov/ledge  of  the  truth,  that  you  may  fee  your  way, 
and  moft  clearly  know  and  underftand,  that  your  way  leads 
to  life  eternal  j  that  all  and  every  one  of  you  in  your  par- 
ticular meetings,  are  to  have  a  dependence  upon  that  which 
can  help  you  in  your  way. 

For  I  have  {q(^x\  too  many  that  have  had  a  wrong  de- 
pendence, after  they  were  rightlv  convinced,  and  after  they 
have  had  a  true  knov/ledge  of  their  way  wherein  they  fhould 
walk  j  they  have  too  much  trufted  to  openings  and  fights 

which 


to  Eternal  Rest,  tSy 

which  they  have  received  ;  they  have  thought  their  moun- 
tain fo  fure,  and  that  their  fe^t  have  been  pafl  Jliding^  that 
there  hath  grown  up  a  ftate  of  prerumption,  that  they  have 
thought  they  Ihould  never  turn  afide,  and  have  not  had  due 
regard  to  the  renewing  of  the  Divine  Power  of  God  in 
their  fouls,  that  God's  children  always  muft  have.  They 
have  (as  I  may  fo  fay)  forgotten  what  our  Lord  faid,  ivith- 
out  me  ye  can  do  nothing  :  They  have  paffed  a  fentence  up- 
on that  dodrine  in  their  minds,  and  they  have  thought  they 
could  do  fomething  ;  that  they  could  withftand  temptation  ; 
that  they  could  do  fome  work  for  God,  and  lervice  to  God, 
without  the  Divine  AfTiftance  of  that  pov/er  that  did  beget 
them ;  and  alas !  the  lead  they  have  fuftained  hath  been, 
that  they  have  run  into  evil,  and  they  have  defiled  their 
way,  and  run  into  temptations,  though  it  hath  pleafed  the 
Lord,  whofe  mercy  is  infinite,  to  pull  them  many  times 
back  again  out  of  the  fnare  which  they  were  fallen  into, 
and  to  take  them  again,  and  to  wafh  them,  and  cleanfe 
them,  and  purify  them,  and  fet  their  feet  on  a  fure  place. 
This  was  more  than  they  deferved  j  but  his  mercy,  and 
goodnefs,  and  tendernefs,  is  over  all  his  works. 

This  he  hath  wrought  for  many  a  one  j  and  not  only 
once,  but  many  times  ;  it  is  hard  venturing  j  it  had  been 
better  if  fuch  a  one  had  never  fallen,  or  that  their  foot- 
fteps  had  never  Aid  from  the  ways  of  the  Lord,  than  after 
they  are  fallen,  to  be  renewed  again  by  repentance.  It 
hath  caufed  fore  judgment,  and  condemnation,  and  anxi- 
ety of  fpirit ;  and  they  have  given  their  old  enemy  an  ad- 
vantage to  whifper  in  their  ears  ;  thou  haft  loft  thy  ground  ; 
thy  fms  are  gone  over  thy  head,  and  thou  (halt  never  find 
repentance.  Thefe  are  the  words  of  the  wicked  one,  who 
feeks  occafion  againft  us  ;  and  through  our  carelefnefs,  and 
not  being  watchful,  we  put  an  advantage  into  his  hands. 
Now  feeing  you  know  he  is  vigilant,  and  feeks  occafion 
that  he  may  turn  you  ou-:  of  your  way,  before  you  attain 
to  the  end  of  it,  you  ought  to  be  vigilant  to  keep  occa- 
fion s   from    him. 

But  fome  may  fay,  how  may  I  keep  occafion s  and  ad- 
vantages from  the  enemy  ?  I  anfwer,  the  way  hath  been 
often  told  you,  and  I  dare  fay  moft  of  you  have  tried  it, 

and 


j^8  The    Un DEFILED    WAY 

and  found  it  to  be  true,  that  fo  long  as  you  have  re* 
mained  in  a  watchful  ftate  and  pofture,  and  have  had  your 
minds  exercifed  by  the  grace  of  God,  by  which  you  were 
convinced  of  your  fin,  and  by  which  your  duty  was  ma- 
nifefled  to  you,  fo  long  you  gave  the  enemy  of  your  fouls 
no  occafion  ;  but  the  truth  preferved  you  wherein  you 
trufted,  and  wherein  you  hoped  and  waited  for  the  vir- 
tue and  power  of  it.  Did  you  find  want  of  ability  then  ? 
Did  the  enemy  prevail  then  I  He  did  not  ceafe  to  tempt 
when  you  was  in  the  moft  Watchful  ftate  of  a  Chriftian  ; 
the  devil  did  not  then  ceafe  to  tempt  you,  but  you  found 
in  you  a  power  that  refifted  him,  and  faid,  get  thee  be- 
hind mey  fatan. 

So  long  as  you  are  upon  your  watch  ;  fo  far  as  you 
keep  your  mind  fixed  upon  the  Divine  Power,  fo  long  you 
are  in  a  fure  place  ;  and  whofoever  turns  afide  from  this, 
they  fulfer  great  harm  and  prejudice  ',  and  if  ever  they  be 
reftored  again,  it  is  with  lofs  and  damage,  and  fore  exer- 
cifc  ;  and  if  they  be  not  reftored,  they  are  loft  to  all  eter- 
nity :  Then  it  had  been  better  for  them  not  to  have  known 
the  vjay  of  righteoufnefs,  than  after  they  have  known  it, 
to  turn  from  the  holy  commandment  delivered  to  them.  And 
then  they  faid  within  themfelves,  this  muft  be  the  way. 

Sirs,  thefe  things  pertain  to  your  everlafting  welfare  ;  I 
fpcak  to  you  as  a  people  that  God  hath  abundantly  loved ; 
and  it  hath  been  far  beyond  any  thing  of  defert.  He  hath 
made  known  his  ways  to  you  ;  the  Lord  may  fay,  con- 
cerning you  of  this  city,  as  of  old,  what  could  I  have  do?te 
more  for  my  vuieyard^  that  I  have  not  done?  So  he  may 
fav  concerning  you,  what  could  I  have  done  more  to  make 
them  a  grown  people,  a  holy  people,  an  entire  people, 
that  they  may  bear  my  name^  and  walk  before  me  in  holt- 
nefs  and  rigjiteoufnefsy  all  the  days  of  their  lives  ?  AS^hat 
fhould  have  been  done  more  for  them  ? 

But  this  is  an  exercife  to  us,  whom  God  hath  bleffed, 
and  fet  as  watchmen,  to  behold  and  fee  the  ftate  of  his 
people,  and  to  feel  and  bear  the  burdens  that  are  to  be  borne  ; 
and  this  is  a  great  burden,  that  after  all  that  God  haih 
done,  and  that  we  do  in  the  hands  of  God,  all  that  is 
neceffary  for  the  welfare  of  the   people,    there  are   iome 

that 


TO  Eternal  Rest.  i6'g 

that  turn  afide,  and  defile  their  way;  and  we  teftiFy 
in  the  name  of  the  Lord,  that  whofoever  walks  in  a  de- 
filed way,  fhali  never  come  to  an  undeflled  reft ;  therefore' 
that  you  do  not  attain  to  that  undehled  reft,  it  is  becaufe 
ye  have  been  defiled  :  Seeing  the  holy  converfation  of  the 
people  of  God  is  the  efferf  of  the  working  of  his  own 
power  and  Spirit. 

Here  comes  the  reft,  by  and  through  a  Mediator,  even 
Jefus  Chrift  the  righteous,  who  is  the  Mediator  between 
God  and  man,  and  the  leader  of  all  his  people  in  the  way 
of  holinefs  and  righteoufnefs,  which  he  hath  made  manifeft 
to  them  that  believe  and  obey  the  power  :  And  he  hath 
purchafed  eternal  falvatioii  for  all  that  beiiei'e  and  obey  the 
go/pel:  But  the  tranfgreflors  do  not  obey  the  gofpel ;  the 
Spirit  of  Chrift-  doth  not  lead  you  to  tranfgreftion  ;  and  the 
power  and  light  that  comes  from  Chrift,  doth  not  lead  you 
to  pride,  vanity,  envy  and  bitternefs  :  Wherever  thefe  things 
are  led  into,  there  is  another  fpirit,  and  that  other  fpirit 
hath  another  tendency,  it  leads  into  the  wrath  of  God. 

And  my  friends,  this  is  that  which  my  foul  deftreth  at 
your  hands,  and  it  is  for  your  good  and  advantage  j  it  is 
my  duty  to  difcharge  my  confcience,  and  to  fpeak  plainly 
as  the  Lord  ftiall  give  me  utterance,  to  warn  you  that  you 
abide  in  the  truth  ;  for  if  fo  be  you  be  not  faved,  but  will 
turn  afide  after  your  own  hearts  iufts,  after  your  pride  and 
the  vanity  of  the  world,  and  the  Iufts  thereof,  you  may 
blame  yourfelves,  and  your  iniquity  vcill  be  your  ruin, 
Wq  that  have  given  up'  ourfelves  to  God  for  your  fakes, 
and  the  churches  fake,  we  fpeak  thefe  things  which  we  have 
learned  of  God,  and  we  earneftly  prefs  you  that  are  con- 
vinced, that  you  walk  in  the  truth  which  you  have  believed  : 
There  is  no  great  need  of  more  knov/ledge,  and  of  the 
vlfion  of  heavenly  and  divine  things;  for  abundance  of  you 
havefeen  more  of  the  things  of  God,  than  ever  you  have 
travelled  and  come  up  into.  I  would  to  God,  that  every 
one  of  you  that  are  convinced,  would  come  up  to  the  tnea- 
fure  of  the  knowledge  you  have  received.  O !  that  you 
would  anfwer  the  Lord's  power,  in  opening  and  dil covering 
his  mind  and  will  concerning  your  travel,  and  the  things 
that  belong  to  his   everlafting    peace,  that  your  foot-fteps. 

y  may 


i/<?  The  Undefiled  Way 

may  be  direcled  thereby.  If  you  will  walk  in  this  unde- 
liled  v/ay,  you  may  lay  down  at  night,  and  rife  in  the 
morning  with  peace,  and  in  the  favour  of  the  Lord,  and 
have  the  anfwer  of  a  good  confcicnce  in  his  light. 

The  means  that  muii:  help  and  conduci;  us  in  this  way, 
mufl:  be  that  familiar  converfe  that  the  foul  miuft  have 
with  fomething  greater  than  itfclf  j  the  familiar  converfe 
that  the  foul  mjaPc  have  with  the  Divine  Power,  \<'ith  that 
manifefration  of  Divine  Light  and  Grace,  w^hich,  through 
Jefus  Chrift,  God  hath  given  unto  you.  For  if  a  man 
prize  and  eileem  the  truth  ever  fo  much,  and  (uifer  ever 
fo  much  for  it,  and  love  the  minifrer  ever  fo  much,  if 
he  keep  not  a  familiar  converfe  with  the  truth,  notwith- 
itandingall  his  profeffion  of  love  to  the  truths  of  the  gofpel, 
.md  the  preachers  of  it,  he  will  reproach  it :  Though  he 
profeiTes  and  favs,  I  love  thee,  I  love  thee  ;  though  he 
hath  fuiFered  much  in  the  way,  yet  if  he  love  not  the  truth  in 
his  own  heart,  and  defire  not  to  feel  the  excellency  and 
virtue  of  it,  that  m.an  will  certainly  difnonour  the  truth, 
and  grieve  the  Holy   Spirit  of  God. 

"^'e  warn  you  to  take  heed  of  your  way,  and  to  your 
feet  in  your  Chriitian  walk,  that  you  may  come  to  have 
an  *  abundant  entrance  into  the  kingdom  of  God.  Pray  to 
God  that  the  work  of  regeneration  may  be  wrought  upon 
vou,  that  you  miay  be  born  into  another  feed,  and  partake 
of  the  divine  nature  :  Then,  though  the  devil  affault  you, 
he  cannot  overcome  you  ;  he  will  find  nothing  in  you 
V/hereby  to  betray  you  into  his  hands,  when  that  change 
is  wrought,  and  when  God  hath  made  an  alteration,  and 
hath  brought  you  out  of  the  love  of  the  world,  and  the 
love  of  earthly  things,  and  fet  your  ajfeElions  above,  vjhere 
Chrift  fits  at  the  right  hand  of  G^d.  Now  you  can  fay, 
liere  comes  a  temptation  with  this  inil:rumicnt,  and  the 
other  inftrument,  and  the  devil  lays  things  before  m.e  that 
he  would  have  me  to  do,  but  I  have  no  inclination  to 
it,  I  have  no  mind  to  be  fucking  at  the  world's  breafts ; 
but  my  mind  is  fet  upon  this,  that  I  may  reach  acquaintance 
with  God,  ivho  xvill  be  a  prefent  help  to  me^  and  tread  down 
fat  an   tinder   my  feet. 

There  is  need  of  your  continual  care  and  vigilancy,   and 

that 


to  Eternal  Rest.  i^x 

that  you  watch  and  pray  that  you  may  not  enter  into 
temptation.  It  is  not  fo  eafy  a  thing  for  a  man  or  wo- 
man while  they  are  in  this  world  to  do  any  thing  with- 
out fin  ;  but  God  hath  called  you  to  a  holy  profefTion  ; 
which  is,  that  you  Ihouid  do  all  you  can  do,  to  do  every 
thing  you  do  without  fm  :  For  vjkethsr  you  eat  or  dri?ik^ 
or  ivkatfoever  you  do^  you  fnould  do  all  to  the  glory  of  God, 
This  fpirit  we  would  have  in  you,  and  we  would  have 
all  you  that  have  received  Chrift  Jefus,  the  Lord,  to  vjalk 
in  him  as  you  have  received  him  :  Then  you  (hall  be  kept 
undefiled  in  the  way,    and  delivered  from  temptation. 

To  this  end  you  muft  be  ftill,  waiting  upon  the  Lord, 
that  you  may  have  acquaintance  with  him  from  day  to 
day  ',  you  are  in  the  world,  but  you  ihould  not  be  of 
the  world  :  The  prayer  of  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  to  his 
heavenly  Father  for  his  difciples,  was  not  that  he  ihould 
take   them   out  of  the  world,   but  keep  them  from  the  evil. 

Merchants,  tradefmen,  and  (hop-keepers,  have  always 
fomething  to  do  in  the  world,  but  they  fhould  pray  ear- 
neftly  that  they  may  be  kept  from  the  evil  of  the  world. 
There  is  nothing  can  be  done  in  the  world,  but  there  is 
evil  in  it,  which  we  ihall  be  overcome  by,  if  we  do  not 
keep  our  watch.  In  the  government  of  a  family,  there 
are  occafions  and  provocations  given  to  be  pafiionate  and 
furious  j  many  occafions  are  given  to  men  and  women  ; 
but  we  ihould  not  be  tranfported  and  overcome  :  Our  pro- 
feilion  obliges  us,  that  when  a  child  or  a  fervant  gives  a 
provocation,  we  are  not  to  behave  ourfelves  unfeemly,  and 
unbecoming  our  holy  profe/Tion  ;  for  it  is  not  in  their 
power,  nor  in  the  devil's  power  either,  to  kindle  your  wrath 
and  anger  into  a  ilame :  If  you  are  upon  your  watch,  and 
v/ait  upon  the  Lord,  he  will  give  you  wifdom  and  ftrength 
to  ftand  againft  all  temptations  whatfoever,  and  to  order  your 
converfation  according  to  the  vcill  of  God,  and  as  becomes  the 
gofpel  of  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrifl. 

In  merchandize,  buying  and  felling,  there  are  fnares,  and 
there  is  evil  we  may  run  into  ;  but  this  is  our  comfort  and 
joy,  there  is  no  coercion,  we  cannot  be  forced  to  fin, 
the  devil  can  only  lay  a  temptation  before  me  ;  if  thou 
wilt  tell  a  lye,  equivocate,  diilemble,  here  is  an  advantage 

for 


17^  The  Umdefiled  Way 

for  thee  ;  but  the  devil  with  all  his  fubtilty,  power  and 
aliurements,  cannot  fay,  thou  (halt  run  into  this  fin,  and 
be  overcome  by  this  temptation  j  for  though  of  ourfelves 
we  can  do  nothing,  yet  in  the  name  and  ftrength  of  our 
Lord  Je^us  Chrift,  u^e  can  do  all  thmgs  ;  we  can  do  that 
which  is  juft,  and  ftand  over  the  temptation,  and  tram- 
ple upon  it,  and  not  be  oienome  of  evil,  but  overcome  evil 
ivith  g  ocl.  \Y''hen  we  have  bought  and  fold,  we  may 
look  back  upon  what  we  have  done  with  pure  minds,  and 
clean  confciences  in  the  fight  of  God,  and  we  may  come 
oif  viiftors,  and  ??io?-e  than  conquerors  (over  temptations) 
through   Jefus   Chrijl    that  hath  loved  us^ 

The  more  a  Chriftian  keeps  himfelf  unfpotted,  and  the 
more  watchful  he  is  in  his  walking,  he  may  go  on  from 
day  to  day,  and  fee  the  fnares  ot  the  devil,  that  lies  in 
this  vanity,  and  this  and  the  other  vanity  and  temptation, 
and  \et  efcape  it. 

I  would  I  could  fay  of  fome  of  you,^  that  when  the 
devil  laid  a  inare  for  ^ou,  you  did  not  run  into  it  when 
you  fav/  it.  I  have  known  fome  that  have  had  under- 
ftanding  enough,  that  they  need  not  be  told  where  the 
fnare  of  the  devil  lies;  yet  fo  hath  it  been,  the  devil 
and  their  own  hearts  lufts  have  agreed  together,  and  they 
have  run  into  the  fnare.  This  is  from  the  old  confede- 
racy that  men  have  had  with  God's  enemies  j  you  are  tny 
j-iendsy  faiih  Chrift,  if  you  do  whatfoever  I  command  you. 
If  you  are  the  friends  of  Chrift,  you  will  be  his  fubjeds, 
and  yield  obedience  to  him  ;  when  he  fliews  them  a  fnare 
they  "will  keep  out  of  it  :  This  is  the  proof  of  a  true 
Chriftian,  that  he  will  be  true  in  a  time  of  trial,  and 
will  truft  in  that  divine  power  that  keeps  him  out  of  the 
in  are. 

One  thing  more  I  would  fay,  that  divine  fellowinip  that 
you  have  wdth  Chrift  Jefus,  it  confifts  in  holinefs  of  life 
and  converlation,  and  the  exercife  of  a  eood  confcience 
towards  God,  and  towards  man.  It  is  in  vain  to  tell  me 
that  you  will  walk  in  unity  with  the  truth,  unlefs  you  have 
unity  with  the  truth  in  your  own  hearts  ;  you  cannot  re- 
ceive the  Lord,  nor  long  deceive  his  people  either.  Here 
is  the  feliowihip  th;u  vou  are  to  live  in  all  your  days,  to  live 

"  '         in 


to  Eternal  Rest,  ly^ 

in  fellowfhip  with  the  people  of  God,  and  communion  of 
faints ;  can  the  faints  have  communion  in  any  thing  but 
holinefs  ?  and  hohnefs  is  a  blefled,  facred  thing,  it  beco^nes 
the  houfe  of  God  forever  ;  they  that  are  faints,  are  fanclified 
and  made  holy  ;  and  he  that  fanElifiethj  and  they  that  are 
fanviified^  are  all  of  one ;  for  which  caufey  he  is  not  afhamed 
to  call  them  brethren^  Heb.  ii.  ii.  They  that  are  fandified 
are  become  faints,  they  bring  forth  the  fruits  of  holinefs 
and  fandification,  and  thc^y  are  come  into  fellowfhip  with 
God  and  one  other.  Every  branch  in  tne,  faith  Chrifl:, 
that  heareth  not  fruit,  he  taketh  away ;  but  every  branch 
that  beareth  fruit,  he  purgeth  it,  that  it  may  bring  forth  more 
fruit.  That  branch  which  beareth  not  fruit,  is  caft  into  the 
fire  and  burned. 

There  are  fome  that  bring  forth  fruit,  but  it  is  fruit  to 
the  flefh,  and  the  wicked  one,  but  I  hope  you  are  not  of 
that  number  :  Thefe  feparate  themfelves  from  the  life  of  the 
true  vine  5  thefe  have  no  fellowfhip  nor  true  memberfhip 
with  the  church  of  Chrift,  while  they  v/alk  as  captives  to 
the  devil,  and  fm  j  thefe  are  of  the  world,  and  not  of  the 
church.  If  you  would  have  fellov/ihip  with  the  church,  do 
not  think  to  have  it  by  outward  conformity  :  Do  not  think 
that  this  will  maintain  your  fellov/fhip  with  Chrifl,  without 
a  life  of  inward  holinefs  and  righteoufnefs ;  for  that  day 
you  break  with  the  truth  in  yourfelves,  you  break  off  your 
fellowfhip  with  the  church  of  God,  and  break  your  peace 
with  God,  and  can  no  way  be  reftored  again  to  the  favour  ,of 
God,  but  by  an  unfeigned  repentance  ;  for  the  myflery  of 
faith  is  to  be  kept  in  a  pure  conference  :  How  is  my  con- 
fcience  defiled,  if  I  wrong  not  this,  or  the  other  man  or 
woman  ?  Some  can  hold  the  myflery  of  faith  ;  fo  far  as  it 
confifts  in  a  profefTion,  they  can  profefs  it,  and  they  preach 
it ;  but  they  have  not  held  the  myflery  of  faith  in  Chrifl:, 
fo  as  to  receive  life,  and  virtue,  and  comfort  from  him. 
You  have  got  the  hifiory  of  words  and  doctrines  ;  but  as 
foon  as  you  defile  your  confcience,  by  doing  evil  things, 
and  depart  from  the  principle  of  gi^acc,  you  make  fhipwreck 
of  faith. 

But,  my  friends,  as  you  have  a  mind  to  continue   and 
abide  in  the  faith,  and  in  this  travel  and  heavenlv  journey, 

r 


T^4  '^^^^  Dawning  of  the  Day 

I  AX^ould  eive  you  this  as  a  certainty,  it  may  do  you  good 
Nji^hen  my  head  lies  low  :  The-  way  to  continue  in  the 
church  oiGod,  and  communion  of  iaints,  and  to  retain  your 
peace  with  God,  is  to  keep  a  familiar  converfe  with  the 
truth  in  your  own  fouls,  and  it  will  keep  you  from  falling, 
and  lead  and  guide  you  in  your  way,  in  your  travel  and 
journey  to  Heaven.  As  the  mother,  when  the  child  cries 
after  her,  but  cannot  go,  takes  it  by  the  hand  and  leads 
it,  fo  if  you  keep  clofe  to  the  truth,  it  can  lead  you 
through  all  difiicukies,  through  great  bufinefs  as  well  as 
little,  and  deliver  you  from  fnares  and  temptations,  and 
when  vou  are  aflaulted,  it  can  bring  you  off  clear.  As  for 
communion  with  God,  and  communion  with  the  faints 
and  people  of  God,  it  ftands  in  that  peace,  and  purity, 
and  keeping  a  holy  frame  of  mind  in  your  heavenly  travel, 
in  the  undefiled  wav,  that  will  at  laft  brins^  vou  to  the  unde- 
filed  cverlafting  rejl  that  remains  to  the  people  of  God. 

SERMON      XVL 

The  Dawning  of  the  Day  of  Grace  and 
Salvation. 

V reached  at  GrACE-Church-StREET,  Augujl  2,  i^c^i, 
^ty  Triendsy 

YOU  cannot  but  know  and  be  fenfible,  that  a  gof- 
pel-day,  a  day  of  grace  and  falvation,  hath  dawned 
uDon  vou,  and  that  the  lieht  of  it  hath  broken 
through  many  clouds  of  darknefs,  which  fometimes  you 
could  not  fee  through.  This  is  an  ineftimable  and  un- 
fpeakable  mercy  of  God  unto  us,  that  the  light  of  the  gof- 
pel  of  lalvation  ihineth  upon  a  people,  that  without  it  muft 
be  miferable. 

There  hath  been  a  very  dark  and  cloudy  day  upon  our 
fore-fathers,  and  alfo  upon  us,  in  the  days  of  our  igno- 
rance.    Wq  are  apt  to  wander  hither  and  thither,  and  to 

be 


of  Grace  and  Salvation.  ly^ 

be  turned  afide  with  the  wind  of  mens'  dodrine,  that  wc 
could  not  find  a  reft,  a  home  or  a  fettlemert  for  our  fouls, 
in  order  to  eternal  life.  And  there  are  many  that  have 
cried  unto  God,  that  he  would  pleafe  to  reveal  his  way, 
and  to  make  it  known  unto  them  ',  and  they  have  been 
apt  to  covenant  with  the  Lord,  that  if  once  they  come  to 
a  certainty,  they  would  walk  in  it.  Unto  fuch  as  thefe 
the  Lord  hath  bowed  his  ear,  and  hath  anfwered  them  ;  and 
in  his  anfwering  the  cry  of  the  foul,  he  hath  brought  fal- 
vation  near,  and  hath  revealed  the  power  by  which  he 
would  bring  it  to  pafs,  in  every  particular  foul  that  re- 
ceiveth  the  gofpel   of  his  Son. 

But  now  friends,    you   that  are   fenfible   of  this   bleffed 
and  glorious  vilitation  of  his  gofpel-day,  in  which  fa! 


va- 


tiofi  is  broufyht  near^  it  is  needful  for  every  one  to  exa- 
mine their  own  hearts,  whether  they  have  really  received 
the  gofpel  ;  whether  they  have  received  and  embraced  the 
great  bounty,  and  unfpeakable  bleiTrngs  of  the  gofpel,  v/ith 
which  the  Lord  God  of  life  hath  vilited  us,  or  whether 
they  have  rejeded  it.  For  though  it  is  our  happineis  to 
know  the  vifitation  of  life,  yet  it  doth  not  follow  that 
every  one  that  is  viiited  will  be  made  an  heir  of  it  ;  for 
there  are  many  that  fall  fliort  through  their  unbelief.  There 
are  many  that  have  received  the  gofpel,  who  do  difobey 
the  gofpel  of  Chrift,  and  fo  have  not  eternal  life   by  it. 

When  people  come  to  this  ferious  examination  of  them- 
felves  herein,  then  the  light  and  grace,  that  comes  from 
Chrift  unto  every  one  of  us,  both  to  him  that  rejed:s  it, 
as  well  as  to  him  that  receiveth  it,  that  will  make  known 
to  them  their  ftate  and  condition,  with  refped  to  the 
gofpel  of  Chrift.  For  there  are  a  great  many,  that  by 
an  ahenation  of  their  minds  from  the  lieht  of  Chrift  Je- 

o 

fus,  are  apt  to  be  miftaken  in  their  ftate,  and  to  make  a 
better  judgment  of  themfelves,  and  of  their  ftate  inwardly, 
than  really  it  will  am.ount  to  in  the  day  that  the  Lord 
fearcheth  and  trieth  them.  But  they  that  make  a  judgment 
of  themfelves,  by  the  openings  and  difcoveries  that  they 
have  through  the  light  of  Chift  Jefus  (for  fo  we  are  to  do 
in  this  weighty  matter)  they  make  a  judgment  of  their  ftate 
and   condition,    according  to  the  evidence  that  the  Spirit 

of 


iy6'  The  Dawning  of  the  Day 

of  God  bears  to  iheir  fpirits  y  and  this  I  hope  you  will 
all  fay  is  a  moft  certain  way.  For  if  we  go  to  compare 
ourfeives  one  with  another,  and  fay,  I  am  better  than 
thee^  and  that  man  is  better  than  I,  here  we  are  liable  and 
fubjed  to  a  great  many  errors,  where  there  ought  to  be 
none.  But  if  we  come  to  meafure  and  determine  our  pre- 
lent  frate  and  condition,  by  the  evidence  of  the  Spirit  of 
God,  bearing  witnefs  with  our  fpirits,  here  we  have  a  foun- 
dation to  place  an  infallible  and  certain  judgment  upon. 
And  they  that  are  obedient  to  the  gofpel  of  Chrift,  are 
capable  of  giving  a  found  judgment  of  their  ftate,  becaufe 
they  are  made  partakers,  through  Chrift,  of  that  grace, 
and  light,  and  truth,  which  they  Inould  be  obedient  to  ', 
and  they  are  brought  into  a  kind  of  knowledge  and  un- 
derftanding  of  their  duty,  whether  they  do  it  or  no.  And 
this  knowledge,  and  this  underllanding  that  God  hath  given 
them,  makes  them  capable  to  pafs  a  right  judgm.ent  upon 
their  own  ftate.  They  will  not  call  it  a  good  ftate,  if  it 
be  an  evil  ftate  ;  and  they  v/ill  not  call  it  an  evil  ftate,  if 
it  be  a  good  one.  They  know  it  is  good  by  the  princi- 
ple of  truth   in  their  judgment. 

Therefore  fmce  there  are  ^o  many  uncertainties  in  the 
world,  and  that  men  are  fo  apt  to  take  hold  of  an  uncer- 
tain way  of  judging  and  determining,  even  in  matters  relat- 
ing to  their  fouls :  There  is  a  greater  aptnefs  in  people  to 
take  hold  of  uncertainties,  in  judging  about  the  matters  of 
their  fouls,  than  in  thofe  things  that  relates  to  their  bodies. 
Seeing  people  are  fo  liable  to  it,  it  can  do  none  of  us  harm 
to  exhort  one  another,  and  move  and  ftir  up  one  another, 
to  make  a  calculation  of  our  ftates,  by  fomething  that  will 
not  deceive.  There  are  abundance  deceived  in  this  coun- 
try, as  well  as  other  countries;  v/e  fhall  not  need  to  go  in- 
to foreign  parts  to  find  people  deceived  and  deluded.  It 
will  not  be  amifs  to  fay,  the  drunkard,  the  fwearer,  he 
liar,  the  oppreffor,  the  proud,  and  the  malicious,  are  de- 
ceived :  If  thev  were  not  fo,  they  would  never  be  over- 
come by  the  wicked  one;  the  author  of  all  evil,  he  hath  de- 
ceived them,  in  that  they  iliould  think  to  go  on  in  thefe 
things,  and  cry  f-cace,  peace,  to  one  another,  and  in  their 
own  fouls  :  This  is  a  srreat  delufion  ;    and  the  devil  is  the 


great 


cf^  Grace  and  Salvation.  ly"; 

great  deluder  that  they  are  deluded  by  :  And  it  would  be 
worth  the  while  to  find  out  that  which  would  niake  a 
man  think  himfelf  in  a  happy  ftate,  and  hope  to  enjoy 
eternal  life,  with  God  and  Chrift,  and  when  he  goes  on  in  fin 
and  iniquity,  it  v/ould  be  worth  the  while  to  find  out 
the  c.elufion. 

There  is  nothing   {o   proper  to  turn    every    one   to   the 
grace  of  God,  as  to  fearcli  their  own  hearts^  and  try  their 
ways.       This   is    that  which   will   difcover  their    thoughts, 
and  make  them  known  to  thcml  elves :  This  is  God's  grace 
and  <^ift  to  men  while  thev  are  vet  finners  and  diiobedient ; 
he  doth  not  withhold  his   grace,  but  gives  his  grace,   and 
light  and  truth,    even   to    the   rebeVtous :    He  g/ves  gifts    to 
men,  even   to  the  rebelUous,  that  he  might  have  a  pTace  and 
dweUing  among  them,  that  they  might  know  there  is  a  God 
that  fearches  the  heart,    rrd  tries  the  reins,    and  judges    all 
unrighteoufnefs.    If  God  hath  given  thee  fo  much  grace,  that 
he  might  have  a  dwelling  in  thy  heart,    (hould    not    that 
retrain  thee  from  fin,   that  the  devil,  by  his  temptations, 
might   not  defile  thee,  and  unfit   thee  for  the  kingdom   of 
God  ?     When  the  Lord  comes  to  fearch  the  heart,  it  is  in 
order  to  the  purging  of  it,  and  the  taking  away  of  iniquity 
and  fin,    that  would   unfit  thee  for  his  kingdom.     This  is 
a  better  way,   and  more  excellent  than  living  to  the  fiefh, 
and    fulfilling  the  lufts  thereof.      Let  people    live   ever   fo 
much  to  their  own   corrupt    wills,    ir.   pride,    wantonnefs, 
loofnefs,  and  the  vanity  of  their  minds,   they  will  not  find 
fo  much  true  fatisfaclion  and  delight,   as  in  living  a  holy 
life,  living  in  the  fear  of  God,  and  avoiding  fin,  and  keeping 
them-^elves  from  the  temptations   and   Inares  of  the   devil. 

This  is  a  more  excellent  way  ;  and  it  is  our  v/ork  and 
bufinefs  to  declare  to  people  this  more  excellent  way,  which 
all,  one  time  or  other,  will  confefs.  This  is  irkiome,  fome 
will  fay  'y  this  will  abate  mv  pleafure  and  delights  in  the 
world,  and  fpoil  my  fecular  intereft.  If  it  were  not  for 
this  reaQ)n,  they  would  grant  it  were  better  to  live  a  holy 
life,  and  to  live  in  the  fear  of  God,  than  live  in  the  fer- 
vice  of  the  devil  ;  and  their  carnal  intercft  lies  in  the  wav, 
and  weighs  down  the  fcale,  but  it  is  becaufe  thou  Joineit 
with  it,    otherwife  the  devil,   and  all  the  powers  of  hell, 

Z  could 


lyB  The  Dawning  of  the  Day 

could  not  Weigh  it  down.  If  people  would  confider  thefe 
things  ferioudy,  thev  would  fay,  it  is  better  to  ferve  God, 
that  made  them,  and  gave  them  life,  and  breath,  and  be- 
ing, than  him  that  would  deftroy  them  ;  and  then  when 
tliev  meet  with  the  pleafures  and  delights  of  the  world, 
that  the  devil  lays  before  them,  they  would  never  weigh 
down  the  fcale  againfl  a  Divine  Reaion  ;  If  thou  wilt  give 
thy  heart  to  it,  and  ferioufly  confider  it,  it  will  weigh 
down  the  fcale  againft  all  temptations  to  live  in  fin,  and 
pleaiure,  and  jollity.  If  thou  wilt  but  join  with  this  Di- 
vine Reafon,  that  tells  thee  theie  cari;al  pleasures  and  en- 
jovments  are  not  necePfary  for  thy  loul,  but  it  is  necef- 
fary  to  Uve  a  holv,  heavenly  life,  and  to  ferve  the  Lord 
that  gave  thee  life,  and  breath,  and  all  things  ;  that  hath 
vouchsafed  thee  manifold  prefervations.  If  thoti  wilt  but 
join  v/ith  the  Divine  Reaion,  and  hearken  to  that  \chich 
opens  the  truth  in  thine  own  hearty  all  the  devil  can  do, 
cannot  make"  thee  ferve  him  ;  for  the  devil  hath  no  coer- 
cion, no  power  to  force  thee  to  commit  fin  j  he  cannot 
make  a  m.an  v/ork  wickedness  againft  his  will  ;  he  mull' 
cloud  the  underftanding,  and  work  upon  the  will,  and  al- 
lure and  entice  the  affections  by  earthly  things.  So  thou 
canfr  not  be  forced  by  the  devil  againft  thy  will,  to  yield 
to  his  temptations,  to  commit  any  iin  ^  but  thou  mAift  fay, 
I   will    do   it. 

I  confefs,  when  the  underf-anding  is  bribed,  and  the  will 
allured  and  fcduced  by  the  devil's  temptations,  there  is  no 
withftanding  them.  But  on  the  other  hand,  if  men  would 
give  up  them! elves  to  the  power  of  God,  they  would  have 
Divine  A ffiftance  ;  and  joining  with  that  power,  they  would 
be  more  than  conquerors.  Therefore  we  cannot  but  be  en- 
couraged to  keep  in  the  way  of  the  Lord,  and  have  ac- 
quaintance with  the  power  of  God,  which  will  preferve 
you,  and  give  you  victory  over  all  the  temptations  and 
affaults  of  the  devil  j  and  without  this  power  you  cannot 
overcome  j  but  if  you  have  the  aidiftance  of  this  power, 
rothing  will  be  too  hard  for  you.  \^hen  you  are  in 
ftraits,  and  in  a  helplefs  condition,  you  fometimes  are 
ready  to  cry  out,  i  fliall  not  overcome  my  fpiritual. 
enemies  ^  I  mall  never  get  vidory  over  fin  and  the  world, 

the 


of  Grace  and  Salvation.  jy^ 

the  flefh  and  the  devil  ',  and  I  (hall  never  be  able  to  with- 
ftand  his  temptations,  but  they  will  prevail  over  me  all 
my  days.  No  wonder  you  make  this  conclullon,  when 
you  have  parted  with  your  truil:  and  dependence  on  that 
power  that  is  able  to  overcome  the  devil,  and  baffle  him 
in  your  thoughts,   words  and  deeds. 

You  may  be  ready  to  fay,  alas !  of  myfelf  I  can  do  no- 
thing j  I  am  not  able  of  myfelf /o  rnuch  as  to  think  a  good 
thought  ;  yet  by  Divine  Afiiftance,  I  do  many  times  think 
good  thoughts.  In  mey  that  is,  in  my  Jlepiy  there  divells 
nothing  that  is  good.  Not  in  my  flefh  abftra(5lly  ;  feparate 
from  the  power  of  God,  and  the  Divine  AfTifrance  vouch- 
fafed  unto  me.  In  my  flefli  dwells  nothing  that  is  good. 
But  if  you  take  me  as  one  that  hath  faith  in  Chrift  the 
Mediator,  this  faith  embraceth  the  tender  of  the  love  of 
God  in  the  Redeemer.  And  when  I  have  this  faith,  there 
dwells  a  good  thing  in  me;  and  from  this  good  thing  that 
dwells  in  me,  there  flows  forth  good  words  and  good  ac- 
tions ;  then  you  come  to  be  acquainted  with  a  power  greater 
than  your  own  ;  and  if  you  truft  in  it,  you  will  be  able 
to  withfl:and  temptations.  When  you  are  tempted  to  any 
fin,  you  will  not  only  be  able  to  withftand  the  tempta- 
tion, but  to  overcome  it  too,  and  to  be  more  than  con- 
querors in  your  fpiritual  warfare-  This  relying  upon,  and 
trufting  in  the  power  of  God,  is  that  which  we  call  faith; 
and  this  faith  is  the  operation  of  God. 

To  fpeak  in  plain  words,  God  will  operate  upon  thy 
mind,  and  make  thee  know,  that  this  is  his  power,  light, 
truth  and  grace,  bv  which  he  would  fave  thee.  And  af- 
ter God  hath  wrought  and  opened  unto  thee  in  this  man- 
ner, it  is  thy  duty  then  to  belive  in  it,  to  put  thy  truft: 
and  confidence  in  it,  to  be  delivered.  But  though  faith 
be  offered  unto  me,  yet  it  is  not  forced  upon  me  ;  God 
hath  offered  faith  to  all  men,  but  he  doth  not  force  it 
upon  any.  All  have  an  opportunity  offered  to  them  ,  if 
they  will  but  join  with  it,  they  may  have  faith  wrought  in 
them,  and  be  fitted  and  prepared  for  the  kingdom  of 
God. 

There  are  many  that  are  convinced  of  the  truth  of  the 
dodrine  that  we  preach  to  them,  but  they  do  not  get  into 

the 


j8o  The  Dawning  cf  the  Day 

the   power  of  the   truth  ;  they  will  hear  us   preach   of  the 
power  of  truth,  and  will  hear  \vhat  this  man  iaith,  and  what 
the  other  man    iaith;     and  this  will   ierve  their  turn,   that 
thev  may  talk  of  religion,  and  m.ake  a  profeflion  :  Eut  they 
do   not  feek  after   that   power    that  Ihould  enable  them   to 
work    out    their    own   falvouic?i.      Thefe    perions    grow    in 
knowledge,    but  they    do    not  grow   in    grace ;    they   will 
embrace  truth  as  far  as  dodrine  and  words  will  go  ;  they 
have   profelled  it,  and   they   have   fuffered   reproach  for  it, 
and  yet  they  have  not  received  the  truth  in  the  love  of  it  ; 
they  cannot  reach  to  the  power  of  it ;  they  glory   in  their 
knowledge  and  in  their  undcrfcanding,    but  they    come  not 
to   that  which  fanctifies  them  ;    they  are  not  able  to  renft 
the  devil,   and   to   fland    againft  his  temiptations  ;    when  a 
temptation  comes,  they  join  with  it,  but  they  cannot  with- 
ftand  it:  They  come   to  the  knowledge  of  truth  in  words, 
but  they  come  not  to  the  knowledge  of  the  power  of  it  in 
their  hearts  and  minds,   fo  as  to  make  them  prepared  vef- 
fels  for  God's  honour  ;   God  is  more  diihonoured  by  them 
than  by    thofe    tha:   never   profeffed  his   name  :    They  fall 
into  the  temptation  of  the  devil,  and  never  diiceni  the  ope- 
ration of  God's  power  in  their  own  hearts. 

Secondly,  There  is  another  error  as  great  as  this ;  there  are 
a  great  miany  that  when  the  Lord's  power  hath  wrought  in 
their  hearts,  and  they  have  truth  opened  to  them  in  the 
power  of  it,  yet  thev  have  not  believed  in  it,  they  have 
not  had  faith  wrought  in  their  hearts,  they  have  not  truf- 
ted  in  it,  nor  relied  upon  the  power  ;  io  they  are  weak 
and  feeble,  they  have  little  faith,  which  is  ne:^t  to  none  at 
all.  If  they  have  ever  fo  much  knowledge,  how  eafy  can 
the  devil  tempt  them  to  fm,  if  they  have  no  faith  ;  this 
is  the  vidloryy  faith  the  apoftle,  that  oiercotues  the  worldy 
ezen  yciir  fatth.  This  is  not  my  vidory,  that  I  fee  the 
fubtiky  and  wiles  of  Satan,  and  know  much ;  but  that 
which  is  my  vicl:ory  is  my  faith  :  My  trufl  is  in  the  power 
of  God,  and  my  reliance  upon  him  who  is  God,  migh- 
tier than  all  the'fireneth  of  men  and  devils;  that  God  who 
knows  my  heart.  If  I  be  faithful  to  him,  and  rely  upon 
him  by  faith,  I  (hall  refift  the  devil,  and  withilanding  his 
temptacions,    obtain  viclory  over  them. 

This 


of  Grace  and  Salvation.  iSi 

This  power  you  may  have  by  the  gospel ;  but  then  you 
muft  be  true  to  the  power  of  it  in  yourl  elves ;  for  I  do  dif- 
tinguilli  between  the  ^ofpel,  as  it  is  a  dodrine  and  v/ord 
preached,  and  an  invifible,  divine  power  working  upon 
men  by  the  preaching  of  the  gofpel ;  you  will  all  hear  the 
gofpel  preached,  though  you  be  ever  fo  proud  and  high-mind- 
ed, and  you  will  lay  it  is  true ;  but  you  can  never  come  to  the 
faving  k^iowledge  of  the  go! pel  itfelf,  till  you  find  it  work- 
ing inwardly  upon  your- elves. 

We  do  not  pretend  to  any  power  of  opening  mens  hearts, 
as  God  opened  the  heart  of  Lydia ,-  but  when  people  come 
to  wait  upon  God  with  a  ferious  and  religious  mind,  you 
will  find  the  power  of  the  word  working  effedually  upon 
you,  and  fo  the  golpel  iviil  become  the  power  of  God  to 
your  falvativn.  This  is,  and  ihall  be  my  prayer,  for  all 
religious  aflemblies,  that  the  Lord  will  be  pleaded  to  teach 
them,  by  his  invifible  word,  and  beget  living  defires  in  them 
towards  himi  elf,  and  bring  them  to  an  eflee:a  of  holinefs  and 
righteoufnefs,  that  they  may  adorn  the  gofpel  of  Chrift, 
by  living  gofpel-lives  ;  for  want  of  this,  what  difhonour 
have  men  brought  to  God,  and  what  reproach  upon  the 
gofpel.  O  !  that  people  would  come  to  hear  the  word 
preached,  with  defire  to  profit  by  it,  and  lay,  Lord,  do  me 
fome  good  this  day,  give  me  a  powerful  refreihing  vifitation 
at  this  time  ;  give  me  iome  living  e:<perience  of  thy  Almighty 
Power  working  upon  my  heart,  that  I  mav  not  be  led  by 
this  man's  word,  or  that  man's  opinion  ;  for  if  they  miftake, 
I  (hall  be  miftaken  :  But  if  I  build  my  faith  upon  what 
God  in  his  word  reveals  to  me,  I  iLall  infallibly  know  what 
I  am  to  believe  and  practife,  and  I  fhall  receiVe  from  God 
fome  good  thing,  and  I  (hall  knew  what  is  the  good  and 
acceptable  vjill  of  God',  I  ihall  find  that  there  is  power  in 
the  gofpel /or  hm!dr/7g  me  up  in  the  moft  holy  faith,  and  that 
it  is  mighty y  through  God,  for  the  pulUvg  down  of  thejtrofig 
holds  of  fin  and  Satan,  and  I  {]id\\  fee  the  falvaticn  of  God 
brought   near  to   me. 

"^hen  the  gofpel  becomes  the  power  of  God,  and  work- 
eth  upon  the  hearts  of  men  by  the  operation  of  the  Divine 
Power,  they  may  diftinguilh  between  that  faith  that  is 
built   upon  the    declarations    of  men,    and    that  which  is 

wroueht 


ic?2  The  Dawning  of  the  Day 

wrought  by  the  revelation  and  difcovcry  of  the  mind  of 
God  in  their  fouls  j  this  is  that  which  we  may  bottom  up- 
on, and  have  an  anchor  fure  and  ftedfafl  in  our  own  fouls; 
when  I  depend  upon  Chrift,  the  rock  of  ages.,  both  of 
this  age,  and  all  other  ages,  my  faith  mufi:  be  placed  upon 
him;  and  when  I  hear  the  word  of  a  man,  I  mufl:  have  an 
eye  to  God,  that  he  will  reveal  his  power  in  my  heart ;  this 
will  make  me  believe  in  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  and  re- 
ceive that  ingrafted  vjord  wkkh  is  able  to  fave  my  foul : 
I  (hall  not  only  hear  the  word,  but  live  in  obedience  to  it. 
Vhat  fignifies  it  to  make  a  profeflion  that  I  have  the 
light  within,  if  I  do  not  give  obedience  to  it  ?  For  without 
that,  it  is  all  hypocrify  ;  all  pretence  to  holinefs,  or  righ- 
teoufnefs,  all  mortification,  is  but  hypocrify,  any  further  than 
we  find  the  power  of  truth  making  an  imprellion  upon  our 
hearts  and  minds,  bringing  us  to  the  obedience  of  faith. 

Let  them  therefore  that  profefs  righteoufnefs,  live  righ- 
teouily,  and  they  that  hear  the  gofpel,  live  in  obedience  to 
it ;  and  thofe  that  profefs  to  be  Chriftians,  let  them  livx^ 
like  Chriftians  indeed  :  "V7hen  every  one  comes  to  know 
*Vithin  himfelf,  fo  far  as  the  gofpel  hath  fnined  upon  him, 
that  they  have  received  the  truth  in  the  love  of  it,  and  love 
the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jefus,  and  are  obedient  to  the  gofpel, 
they  fliall  know  the  falvation  of  it.  There  is  a  diicovery 
of  God's  power  in  the  go' pel,  and  there  is  a  believing  of 
it,  and  trufting  in  it  ;  this  is  that  which  belongs  to  a  Chrif- 
tian,  this  is  the  beginning  and  the  firit  {lep  to  a  Chriftian 
life  ;  we  m.uft  believe  in  Chrift  ;  for  uithotit  faith  it  is  ijn-^ 
po£ible  to  pleafe  God,  He  that  believeth,  fhouid  be  careful 
to  walk  in  the  truth  that  he  hath  received,  and  then  he  (hall 
have  a  teftimony  of  the  power  and  virtue  of  it  in  his  own, 
foul.  This  virtue  and  power,  if  he  joins  with  it,  hath  the 
government  of  his  heart  and  life,  and  gives  him  victory  over 
the  world,  and  the  temptations  of  Satan. 

You  know  in  the  primitive  times  there  were  believers 
that  not  only  held  the  faith,  but  liied  by  faith  ;  and  by  that 
faith  thev  got  victory  over  all  the  allurements,  and  plea- 
fures  and.  vanities  of  the  world.  I  have  fought  a  good  fght^ 
faith  the  apoftle,  2  Ti?n,  iv,  7,  8,  I  have  jifiified  my  courfey 
I  have  kept  the  faith,  henceforth  is  laid  up  for  me  a  crovcn 

of 


of  Grace  and  Salvation,  ^  t8j 

of  righteoiifnefs,  which  the  Lord,  the  righteous  Judge^  fliall 
give  tne  at  that  day^  and  not  to  me  only,  but  unto  all  them 
alfo  that  love  his  appearing.  I  have  got  the  vidory,  and 
there  remains  an  eternal  weight  of  glory  for  me. 

My  friends,  this  is  our  ambition,  and  all  our  labour 
among  you,  that  you  may  be  built  up  in  the  mofl:  holy 
faith  J  that  you  may  be  brought  home  to  Chrift,  in  all 
your  meetings  and  gatherings  together  :  You  fhould  de- 
iire  to  be  enriched  with  faith,  and  to  have  your  own  ftore- 
houfe  filled  with  all  the  fruits  of  the  Spirit,  and  not  only 
feek  for  the  knowledge  of  the  truth,  but  be  fubjed  and 
obedient  to  what  you  know,  otherwife  by  your  religion 
you  will  but  hurt  yourfelves.  And  the  apoftle  Peter, 
a  Peter,  i,  12,  fpeaks  of  knowing  the  truth,  and  of  being 
eftabliihed  in  it,  and  of  fome  that  after  they  had  efcaped 
the  pollutions  of  the  world,  through  the  knowledge  of  our 
Lord  and  Saviour,  Jefus  Chrifl,  they  are  again  entangled 
therein,  and  overcome,  and  the  latter  end  with  them  is  ivcrfe 
than  the  beginning  ;  for  it  had  been  better  for  them  not  to 
have  knovon  the  way  of  righteoufnefs,  than  after  they  have 
knovon  it,  to  turn  from  the  holy  comtnandment  delivered  unto 
them.  There  is  a  power  goes  along  with  the  preaching  of 
the  gofpel,  that  will  enable  you  to  do  what  you  know  ',  the 
goipel  is  a  powerful  dodrine,  whether  you  know  it  or  not, 
or  whether  you  fubmit  to  it  or  not,  yet  pray  remember 
that  God's  people  are  a  willing  people  in  the  day  of  his  power y 
they  are  a  certain  fort  of  people  that  are  devoted  to  God, 
and  fubmit  all  their  worldly  honours,  interefts,  profits  and 
pleafures,  to  the  pleafure  of  God,  and  defire  no  other  plea- 
fure  or  happinels,  but  to  enjoy  his  prefence  and  favour  j 
they  are  fatified  with  this,  and  they  are  a  happy  people, 
being  made  a  willing  people  in  the  day  of  God's  power ; 
they  are  willing  to  deny  themfelves,  to  take  up  a  daily  crofs 
and  follow  Chrifl,  and  have  falvation  upon  his  terms. 

There  are  a  great  many  profelTors  that  have  notions,  and 
out-fide  appearances,  but  they  want  that  virtue,  and  life, 
and  power,  that  Ihould  fettle  them  in  religion,  and  a  love 
of  the  truth.  The-  Lord  that  knows  our  hearts,  knows  that 
our  labour  and  travel  among  you  hath  been  defigned  for 
your  good,  and  that  our  hearts  defire  is^  that  you  may  be 

faved 


iS4,  The  Dawning  cf  the  Day 

favecl  in  the  day  of  the  Lord  Jefus.  Y/q  would  have  peo- 
ple coniider,  and  attend  and  hear  what  God  fpeaks,  and 
remember  what  he  hath  taught  you  by  the  minifters  of  the 
gofpel  :  We  have  all  ears  to  hear,  let  us  thank  God 
fbr  that ;  bleffed  be  God  that  there  is  a  power  and  an  abili- 
ty of  hearing  with  an  outward  ear  ;  but  there  are  many 
that  will  not  fo  much  as  give  the  hearing  to  what  might 
be  fpoken  to  them  from  the  Lord  :  He  that  hath  ears  to 
hear^  let  him  hear vohat  the  Spirit  faith  to  the  churches;  and 
what  he  faith  to  his  own  foal ;  hear  what  the  Spirit  faith 
of  your  own  ftate  and  condition;  if  it  be  good,  blefs  Qod 
for  it;  are  you  in  fo  good  a  condition,  that  vou  have  no 
trouble,  no  diftrefs  to  lament,  no  wants  to  fupply,  blelTed 
are  you  that  have  none  ;  but  if  you  find  that  you  have  done 
amifs,  and  if  the  Lord  ih raid  call  you  this  night  to  give 
up  your  account,  the  Lord  hath  a  great  deal  againft  you, 
I  am  fure  ;  and  I  tell  you  it  is  your  duty  to  turn  to  the 
Lord  with  unft;igned  repentance,  that  through  Chnfl:  Jefus, 
you  may  receive  pardon  and  remifilon  of  all  your  fins,  and 
hear  what  the  Spirit  faith  to  yourklves,   and  in  >)'ourfelves. 

Pray  come  and  make  it  your  work  and  bufmefs  the  reft 
of  the  time  you  have  to  live,  to  ivcrk  oat  your  falvation 
'Ujith  fear  and  tremhling^  that  when  Chrift  comes,  you  may 
fay,  come  Lord,  Jefus^  come  quickly,  purify  me  and  iandtify 
me,  and  prepare  me  to  be  prefented  to  the  Father  unthout 
fpotj  and  blame! efs  ;  the  day  is  coming  that  this  will  be  the 
defire  of  everv  one  of  you. 

And  it  is  the  carncft  breathing  and  defire  of  my  foul, 
that  every  one  of  you  may  have  an  eye  unto  the  Lord, 
and  he  will  look  down  from  Heaven,  and  have  regard 
to  the  cry  and  the  fighing  of  the  needy  foul.  God 
will  arife,  and  find  out  the  people  that  breathe  after  him, 
and  that  defire  to  be  reconciled  to  him,  through  the 
Mediator  Jefus  Chrifl;  the  Lord  loveth  to  find  out  fuch 
a  people,  and  I  am  glad  to  preach  to  fuch  a  people  the 
glad  tidings  of  the  gofpel,  and  to  teach  as  God  hath 
taught  mc  ;  good  and  upright  is  the  Lord,  therefore  ivill 
he  teach  and  guide  you  in  the  vjay  ivhlch  you  jhould  go. 
Walk  humbly  with  God  ;  he  will  nfifl  the  proud,  but 
he    ivill    give    ^race     unto    the    humble.      W'alk    uprightly 

before 


The  Excellency  of  Peace  with  GOD.  18^ 
before  the  Lord  in  this  gofpel-day  that  fhines  upon  you  > 
love  the  appearance  of  God,  and  prize  it,  though  it 
hath  not  been  fo  glorious  to  you,  as  to  fome  others, 
yet  defpife  not  the  day  of  fmall  things:  live  in  fubjedion 
to  that  grace  that  the  Lord  hath  given  you,  and  the  Lord 
will  give  you  more  grace,  and  pour  out  his  Spirit,  and  mul- 
tiply his  blefTings  upon  you  ',  the  Lord  hath  begun  a  good 
ivork  in  you,  and  he  will  carry  it  on  to  the  day  of  Chrlft, 
and  will  vouchfafe  to  bring  the  glorious  day  of  his  vifitatioa 
upon  you. 

To  "'the  Lord  I  leave  you,  to  his  favour  and  protedion 
I  commit  you  j  remember  that  there  is  no  falvation  but 
by  Jefus  Chrifr,  and  none  to  be  had  by  Chrift,  till  you 
come  to  believe  in  him  ',  to  him  that  fearcheth  the  heart, 
and  tries  the  reins,  that  pardoneth  iniquity,  tranfgrefiion 
and  fin,  for  the  fake  of  Chrift  Jefus,  the  Mediator,  to  him 
I  do  commit  you,  not  doubting  but  that  he  that  hath  begun 
a  good  work  in  you,  will  at  laft  complete  and  finiili  it  to 
his  own  praife  and  your  falvation. 

SERMON     XVII. 

The  Excellency  of  Peace  with 
G  ^O     D. 

F  reached  at  Devonshire-House  J  Augvft  ^,  i6c?r. 

^iy  Jriends^ 

IT  is  man's  great  happinefs  in  this  world  to  have  ac- 
quaintance with  God,  with  the  Lord  that  made  him, 
from  whom  he  hath  life  and  breath  here,  and  his  eternal 
welfare  hereafter  ;  this  doubtlefs  every  one  will  acknow- 
ledge one  time  or  other,  that  peace  with  God  is  a  great 
jewel,  and  the  beft  eftate  and  riches.  It  is  the  great  defire  of 
every  one  that  they  may  attain  to  this  one  time  or  other ; 
and  there  is  a  great  negledt  of  happinefs  among  the  fons 
and  daughters  of  men,  in  not  feeking  of  it,  and  not  labouring 

A  a  to 


tSS        The  Excellency  cf  Peace  with  GOD, 

to  attain  it  while  it  is  to  be  had  ;  Oh  !  hov/  many  triHe 
away  their  time  about  fading  and  periihing  objefts,  and 
they  know  at  the  fame  inftant  that  they  are  yet  deflitute  of 
the  favour  of  God,  and  peace  with  him.  Oh,  friends! 
the  very  thoughts  and  conlideration  of  the  worth  of  this 
iewel,  and  of  the  miferv  of  beinp  without  it,  and  the  un- 
certainty  of  our  tim.e  while  it  is  to  be  attained,  might  put 
every  one  upon  a  ferious^  dihgent  enquiry  after  the  way  and 
means  whereby  they  m/lght  attain  it,  that  fo  they  m.ight  have 
a  refting-place  for  their  fouls,  and  fatisf^dion  to  their  in- 
ward man,  that  it  ihail  go  well  with  them,  when  time  fhail 
be  no  m.ore. 

And  they  that  come  to  this  confideration,  and  are  rcfolved 
in  their  hearts  and  minds,  that  they  will  labour  after  this, 
and  fet  their  whole  endeavour  after  it,  they  will  in  the  firfl: 
place  feek  the  kingdom  cf  Gody  and  the  righteoufnefs  thereof : 
Theie  do  need  a  daily  encouragement  in  their  way  to  Hea- 
ven, and  there  is  nothing  on  the  Lord's  part  wanting  to 
fuch  fouls,  but  that  they  may  attain  their  defire. 

But  alas !  this  hath  been,  and  is  frill  the  mifery  of  thou- 
fands,  they  are  feeking  after  peace  with  God,  but  they  err 
in  the  way  to  it,  they  do  not  feek  in  that  way,  nor  take 
hold  of  thofe  methods,  by  and  through  which  God  hath 
prom.ifed  peace  ;  you  fhall  fcarce  meet  with  anv  body, 
but  they  would  have  eternal  life  and  peace  with  God  ;  we 
ihall  not  need  to  perfuade  people  to  wilh  for,  and  to  defire 
to  have  peace  with  God  when  they  ihall  come  to  die,  and 
lay  down  their  heads  in  the  duft.  There  is  not  a  Balaain^ 
but  he  defires  to  die  the  death  of  the  righteous ,  atid  that  his 
iaft  end  may  belike  his  :  There  is  not  a  Scribe j  or  a  Pharifee, 
or  any  that  profefs  religion,  but  they  are  feeking  eternal 
life.  The  Lord  Jefus  did  witnefs  concerning  them,  that 
they  were  an  envious,  proud',  perfecuting  people,  yet  that 
they  did  feek  after  eternal  life,  and  they  pitched  upon  fome 
methods  and  ways  whereby  they  thought  to  get  and  enjoy 
it;  but  all  this  was  error  ftill,  they  where  out  of  the  way 
of  attaining  it,  and  fo  are  a  great  m.any  people  at  this  very 
day  ;  the^/  are  in  a  (late  and  condition  wherein  they  are 
never  like  to  enjoy  it  ;  the  methods  and  the  wa)'s  that  they 
have   chofea   to   themfelves,    to  find   eternal   life    by,    and 

to 


The  Excellency  of  Peace  ivhh  GOD.        i8y 

to   obtain    peace   with    God,  will    never   anf^^^er    the    end. 

And  God  hath  been  pleafed  to  difcover  to  us  the  many 
by-ways  that  people  have  chofen,  and  feek  peace  with  God 
by  ;  therefore  we  are  willing  at  all  times,  to  fhew  people 
their  error  in  thefe  sreat  matters  of  hi^^heft  concernment  to 
them.  If  they  did  err  in  their  way  of  feeking  to  obtain 
fome  earthly  good,  and  miffed  their  end,  they  know  the 
price  of  it,  it  is  but  a  lofs  of  fo  much,  which  if  they  had 
taken  a  right  courfe,  they  might  have  attained  ;  but  it  is  an 
unfpeakabie  lofs,  an  ineftimabie  lofs,  if  they  lofe  peace 
with  God,  and  all  the  pains  and  labour  they  are  at  to  obtain  it. 

I  befeech  you,  friends,  confider  thefe  things,  they  are  of 
great  weight,  and  you  will  fay  fo  one  day  or  other  ;  for, 
faith  our  Saviour,  what  ivil!  it  -profit  a  man  to  gain  the 
whole  world,  and  lofe  his  oivn  foul  ?  Or  what  fhail  a  'man 
give  in  exchange  for  his  foul  ?  O  !  Hov/  fad  is  it  to  coniider, 
that  a  man  hath  not  made  provifion  for  his  foul,  that  he  hath 
not  a  place  ofreftforhis  immortal  loul,  and  that  the  arms 
of  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  are  not  open  to  receive  his  foul, 
when  his  body  can  retain  it  no  longer  !  If  this  be  a  man's 
ftate  v/hen  he  comes  to  die,  it  had  been  better  for  him  that 
he  had  never  been  born  :  Men  may  live  and  gather  riches, 
and  enjoy  a  plentiful  eilate  j  but  if  they  be  deftitute  of  the 
favour  of  God,  and  peace  with  him,  what  will  they  do 
with  thefe  perifhing  enjoyments  ?  They  cannot  polTibly  fa- 
tisfy  themfclves  with  thefe  tranfitory,  vifible  things ,  but 
if  thefe  perfons  only  mind  their  bodies,  and  neglect  their 
fouls,  do  they  not  live  like  the  heafts  that  perifh  ?  The  beaft 
feeks  after  his  meat,  and  when  he  finds  it,  he  eats  it  with 
delight  and  pleafure,  and  in  a  little  while  he  lies  down  and 
dies,  and  there  is  an  end  ;  fo  it  is  with  carelefs  fouls,  that 
have  no  regard  to  their  future  flate  ',  but  they  fay,  let  us  eaty 
and  drinky   and  be  merry ^  for  to-morroiv  we  fliall  die. 

Oh !  that  every  one  of  us  did  apply  our  hearts  feri- 
ouHy  to  the  coniideration  of  the  weight  of  thefe  things 
that  concern  our  eternal  ftate  ;  if  perfons  did  this,  then 
they  might  come  to  an  enquiry  into  their  own  fouls,  what 
method  and  way  is  mod  iafe  for  the  attaining  of  fo  blef- 
fed  an  end.  For  you  know  there  are  abundance  of  people, 
if  you  look    up  and    down    in   the  world,    you   will   fee 

every 


jS8        The  Excellency  of  Peace  with  GOD. 

every  body  alnioft  hunting  up  and  down  in  fome  wav  of 
religion  or  other,  and  are  engaged  in  religious  performances : 
What  is  the  matter  ?  what  would  you  have  ?  We  would 
have  peace  with  God  here,  and  everlafting  reft  hereafter  in 
the  kingdom  of  Heaven  j  that  we  would  have.  Thus  have 
the  nations  been  fcattered  and  driven  up  and  down  in  the 
purfuit   of  happinefs   and  fatis£idion. 

There  is  a  general  belief  amongft  people,  that  there  is 
a  Heaven,  and  a  Hell,  and  that  they  muft  have  their  part  in 
one  of  them  ;  there  are  none  that  delire  a  portion  in  the 
lake  that  bums  with  fire  and  /prifNj'lone.  Thofe  prophane 
wretches  that  cry  to  God  to  damn  them,  they  do  not 
mean  what  they  fpeak,  they  would  be  faved  for  all  that; 
every  one  will  cry  at  laft,  Lord  have  mercy  upon  me,  if  he 
hath  but  time  to  fay  fo  :  Let  us  cry.  Lord  have  mercy  upon 
me  now;  Lord  beftow  thy  favour  upon  me;  Lo'd  lift  up  the 
light  of  thy  countenance  upon  ?//f  ;.Lord  touch  my  hard  heart, 
and  .^often  it  and  break  it,  by  the  power  of  thy  Spirit;  open 
mine  e\es,  that  I  may  fee  the  voo7tderful  things  of  thy  law  ; 
open  mine  ears,  that  I  may  hear  thy  voice.  It  is  good  for 
people  to  make  ufe  of  time  while  they  have  it;  whofoever 
calls  upon  the  name  of  the  Lord  fhall  be  faved,  and  God 
will  pour  out  his  wrath  upon  thofe  that  call  not  upon  his  name. 
Lie  that  calls  upon  the  name  of  the  Lord,  fhall  be  faved;  and 
God  gives  great  encouragement  to  people  to  feek  after  him. 

\yhat  mean  you  by  (eeking  after  God  ?  I  have  gone 
to  church,  and  iaid  my  prayers  ;  I  have  gone  in  the  way 
which  my  fathers  have  led  me,  and  direfied  me,  I  hope 
I  iliall  find  mercy  at  laft  ;  I  am  a  believer,  I  beheve  in 
Jefus  Chrift-  that  died  for  my  fins,  and  rofe  again  for 
mv  jufiification  ;  I  hope,  through  the  merits  of  Jefus  Chrift, 
I  ihall  be  faved.  What  mean  you  by  feeking  after  the 
Lord  ?  Do  not  we  all  hear  of  him,  and  pray  to  him  every 
day? 

is  there  any  thing  more  common  than  this,  that  peo- 
ple fpeak  to  one  another  generally  about  ?  as  for  the  ge- 
neral knowledge  of  God,  \ou  and  I  may  fee  to  our  ior- 
rov/,  that  a  great  many  crv.  Lord,  Lord,  that  are  never 
like  to  enter  into  the  kingdom  of  God.  If  all  that  take 
thv  name  of  Goa  in  dieir  xnouths,    Ihould   enter  into  tliQ 

kingdoru 


The  Excellency  of  Peace  ivlth  GOD.        i8g 

kingdom  of  Heaven,  it  would  be  a  very  foul  kingdom  : 
If  all  the  drunkards  and  whoremongers  of  England,  and 
all  prophane  ungodly  perfons,  that  will  take  the  name  of 
God  in  their  mouths,  ihould  enter  into  the  kingdom  of 
Heaven,  it  would  be  a  very  unclean  and  impure  king- 
dom j  there  is  nothing  enters  there  that  is  unclean,  that  is 
abominable,  that  lovetk  to  make  a  lie.  So  that  there  muft 
be  fome  more  peculiar  people  that  fhall  have  an  abun- 
dant entrance  into  the  kingdom  of  God  ;  and  there  mull: 
be  fomething  that  will  entitle  them  to  it.  For  you  may 
remember  our  Saviour  faith,  no  man  knoweth  the  Father 
but  the  Son,  and  he  to  whom  the  Son  JJiall  reveal  hiyn.  So 
much  as  may  be  known  of  God  by  works,  you  and  I 
may  know,  without  the  revelation  of  Chrift  j  we  need  not 
wait  for  this  knowledge,  we  can  have  it  by  books  j  we 
can  have  it  by  Chrift's  revelation.  Nothing  would  ferve 
fome  in  our  Saviour's  time,  but  eternal  life  j  and  our  Lord 
Jefus  bids  them  fearch  the  fcriptures,  for  in  them  (faith  he) 
you  think  to  have  eternal  life,  and  they  are  they  which  tef- 
tify  of  ?ne.  Yet  for  all  the  profciTion  they  made,  he  tells 
them,  no  man  hath  feen  God  at  any  time,  neither  feen 
his  fhape,  nor  heard  his  voice  ;  they  were  ftrangers  to  God, 
though  they  had  a  general  knowledge  of  God= 

So  it  is  at  this  day  ;  there  is  a  general  knowledge  of 
God,  and  people  hope  to  obtain  peace  with  God,  and  eter- 
nal Ufe.  Their  parents  and  their  tutors  have  inftruded 
them  in  the  principles  of  Chriftianity,  and  about  the  at- 
tributes of  God  ;  but  all  this  will  not  bring  a  man  to  a 
faving  knowledge  of  God,  and  reconciliation  with  him  : 
For  a  man  that  is  as  wicked  as  the  devil  can  make  him., 
knows  thefe  things,  and  yet  may  be  a  fervant  of  the  de- 
vil, and  do  his  work  j  he  is  not  born  again,  and  become 
a  child,  by  all  his  external  knowledge.  Now  he  that  de- 
fires  to  come  to  the  true,  faving  knowledge  of  God,  our 
Saviour  hath  told  us,  that  none  knows  the  Father  but  the 
Son,  and  him  to  whom  the  Son  will  reveal  him  ;  this  is 
a  fure  way  to  come  to  the  true  knowledge  of  God,  by 
Jefus  Chrift  ;  he  hath  the  key  that  openeth  the  heart,  and 
he  will  bring  us  to  the  true  knowledge  of  God  the  Fa- 
ther.     Chrift  hat/i  the  key  of  David,    ivhich   openeth,    and 

no 


jc)o  Tlie  Excellency  of  Peace  with  GOB, 

no  man  fnutteth  ;    a72d  fnntteth,    and  no  man   operieth.     He 
can  bring  us  to  behold  the  glory  of  God  in  his  own  face ; 
without  him  we  are  never  like  to  come  to  the  faving  know- 
ledge of  God. 

Poor  man  is  in  a  lapfed,  fallen  ftate,  he  is  fallen  into  fin, 
and  is  in  a  ftate  of  alienation  from  God,  and  therefore  he 
cannot  com.e  to  him  but  by  a  Mediator  ',  there  is  one  Medi^ 
ator  hetvccai  God  and  man^  ths  man  Chrift  Jcfus^  and  he 
muil-  make  peace  for  him,  elfe  he  W"ill  never  have  it  :  How 
then  (hail  we  come  to  Chrift,  if  he  is  the  only  means,  and 
there  is  no  other  by  which  we  may  come  to  the  knowledge  of 
God,  as  the  fcripture  ipeaks?  Hearken  to  it,  how  may  we 
come  to  Chriil:  ?  I  anfwer,  you  will  never  come  to  him  ;  if  he 
nrft  come  not  to  you,  you  will  never  be  able  to  do  it.  It 
is  not  coming  to  Chrift,  when  you  fay,  you  do  believe  that 
Chrift  died  and  rofe  again,  and  afcended  up  into  Heaven, 
and  fits  at  the  right  hand  of  God,  and  lives  forever  to  make 
intercefiion  for  his  people,  and  to  read  thofe  words  and 
dodrines  which  he  preached  up  and  down  at  meetmgs,  and 
folemn  afiembUes  ;  but  if  vou  believe  that  he  is  the  eternal 
Son  of  God,  and  the  author  of  eternal  falvation  to  all  that 
obey  hwiy  you  muft  come  to  him,  and  entirely  give  up  your-, 
felves  to  his  glory  and  fervicej  without  this,  you  cannot 
come  to  him,  nor  will  he  bring  you  to  the  Father :  Chrift 
is  come  near  to  us,  he  ftands  at  the  door  of  our  hearts,  and 
he  ftands  and  knocks :  Behold  !  that  is  a  word  that  calls  for 
attention,  for  people  to  take  notice  of.  Behold,  I  Jiand 
at  the  door  and  knock ;  what  doft  thou  knock  for  ?  faith 
Chrift,  that  thou  may  eft  open  the  door  of  thy  heart ;  for 
if  any  man  open,  I  will  cofne  and  fup  with  hiWy  and  he 
with  me,  and  my  Father  will  come  to  him^  and  we  will  make 
cur  abode  with  him. 

Now  people  are  loth  to  be  at  this  pains  and  trouble,  to 
open  the  door  of  their  hearts  to  Chrift,  for  they  will  not 
believe  it  is  Chrift  that  knocks,  and  that  rebukes  and  checks 
them,  when  they  refufed  to  open  to  him  ;  when  they  find 
fomething  within  that  reproves  them  for  their  ftn,  and  doth 
condemn  them  that  they  cannot  be  at  quiet,  they  will  never 
believe  that  this  is  Chrift:  How  can  this  be  Chrift?  they  fay, 
He  is  afcended  up  to  Heaven,   and  he  is  at  the  right  hand  of 

God 


The   ExCtLLENCY   of  "PEACE  vAth   GOD  T^t 

God  the  Father :  WiU  you  make  me  believe  that  this  is 
Chrift  knocking  at  the  door  of  my  heart?  I  cannot  believe 
it :  But  what  faith  our  Saviour,  nnlefs  you  believe  that  I  am 
he,  you  fliall  die  in  your  fjis  :  For  there  is  nobody  elfe  can 
help  you  out  of  them, 

There  is  a  two-fold  confideration  that  we  are  to  have  of 
Chrift  y  one  is^  as  he  was  made  of  a  vjoman,  made  under  the 
laiv ;  and  another  confideration  of  Chrift  is,  as  he  is  the 
eternal  Son  of  God.  Men  have  very  grofs  thoughts  of 
Chrift,  to  think,  that  becaufe  he  is  in  Heaven,  therefore  he 
cannot  be  here  too  :  They  meafure  him  by  themfelves  j 
they  know  becaufe  a  man  is  at  London,  therefore  he  cannot 
be  at  York  at  the  fam.e  time.  Thus  thefe  men  obied,  if 
Chrift  is  in  Heaven,  how  can  he  be  here  ?  His  dodrine  and 
precepts  are  here,  let  us  make  ufe  of  them  all ;  he  will  come 
again  at  the  day  of  judgment;  but  this  is  a  day  of  judg- 
ment :  Doth  not  he  judge  you  now  ?  He  Is  the  judge  both  of 
quick  and  dead,  and  he  ts  the  fearcher  of  hearts,  and  the  trier 
of  the  reins ;  fo  that  thou  canft  not  think  an  ill  thought, 
but  he  will  tell  thee  of  it ;  he  is  nearer  to  thee  than  the  wife 
of  thv  bjfom,  or  thy  hufband  that  \s>  near  to  thee  :  Hufband 
and  wife  may  think  an  ill  thought,  but  they  cannot  tell  one 
another  of  it ;  but  Chrift  is  one  that  comes  fo  near  thee, 
that  thou  canft  not  conceive  an  ill  thought  againft  thy  neigh- 
bour, but  he  v/ill  tell  thee  of  it. 

This  is  the  Lord  Chrift,  as  a  Spirit,  a  quickening  Spirit, 
who  is  made  manifeft  in  the  flefh :  He  hath  given  to  every 
man  a  meafure  of  the  Spirit  to  profit  vuithal  :  The  grace  of 
God  which  bringeth  falvation,  hath  appeared  unto  all  men. 
NotxWthftanding  the  diftinftion  of  learned  men  between 
common  grace  and  fpiritual  grace,  this  grace  that  brings  fal- 
vation,  hath  appeared  unto  all  men.  This  manifeftation  of 
the  Spirit  and  light  within,  we  have  from  Chrift.  Thefe 
are  the  ways  and  methods  that  the  Lord  Chrift  hath  taken 
to  approach  near  to  us.  Now  your  own  reafon  will  tell  you, 
if  this  be  the  v/ay  and  means  that  Chrift  takes  to  approach 
near  to  us,  we  cannot  take  another  way  to  approach  to  him  : 
If  Chrift  hath  taken,  I  fay,  this  way  to  approach  to  us,  by 
the  light  and  manifeftation  of  his  own  Spirit,  which  con- 
vinceth  us  of  fm  :  If  this  be   Chrift's  way  of  coming  to  us, 

there 


ic)2  The  Excellency  of  Peace  ivith  GGD, 
there  can  be  no  other  way  of  our  coming  to  him,  but  by 
the  fame  method  of  his  grace.  He  faith,  if  you  have  the 
light,  believe  in  the  light.  I  have  the  hght,  I  am  enlighten- 
ed, there  is  fomething  that  difcovereth  my  evil  thoughts : 
Why  muft  I  believe  in  the  light  ?  That  you  may  be  children 
of  the  light,  as  our  Saviour  fpeaks  ;  they  that  are  the  chil- 
dren of  the  light  ihall  have  it  for  their  inheritance  j  and 
thev  that  are  children  of  darknefs,  muft  have  darknefs  for 
their  inheritance  :  While  we  have  the  light,  we  muft  believe 
in  it,  and  we  ihall  be  made  children  of  the  hght :  God  hath 
fent  his  Son,  and  the  Son  hath  fent  his  Spirit  and  his 
heavenly  grace  into  our  hearts,  that  we  m.ay  draw  near  to 
him,  and  be  directed  how  to  attain  acquaintance  with  him, 
and  to  do  that  which  pleafeth  God,  and  come  to  be  in  union 
with  him,  and  do  the  works  of  God.  This  is  that  which 
God  requires  of  us,  that  we  will  believe  on  him  whom  he  hath 
fent ;  that  We  may  embrace  the  hght,  and  believe  in  the 
light,  in  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift. 

Pray  what  do  you  mean  by  believing  ?  There  is  fomething 
within  me  checks  and  reproves  me  for  fin,  and  calls  m.e  off 
from  it,  and  bids  me  turn  over  a  new  leaf:  Muft  I  hearken 
to  this  ?  Is  this  that  which  you  mean  by  believing  ?  As  to 
this  degree  of  believing,  they  that  reject  it  now,  fhall 
believe  it  heareaftcr  ;  for  all  the  world  at  laft,  and  the 
damned  in  hell  fhall  certainly  confefs  that  there  was  grace, 
and  light,  and  means  afforded  to  them,  and  they  might  have 
gone  farther,  and  efcaped  that  mifery  that  they  are  fallen 
into. 

But  there  is  a  more  precious  faith  that  I  would  have  you 
partake  of,  a  faith  that  vjorketh  by  love.  Since  the  Lord  hath 
been  fo  gracious  as  to  extend  his  mercy  and  love  to  me,  I  am 
fo  taken  with  the  love  of  God,  that  I  will  be  obedient  to 
him  y  this  faith  that  worketh  by  love,  is  the  faith  of  God's 
eicd  ;  that  by  which  we  may  obtain  vidory  over  our  paf- 
fions  and  lufts,  and  over  fatan  and  the  fnares  of  the  v/orld  ; 
when  we  ai'e  come  to  clofe  with  the  grace  of  God,  and  to 
believe  in  Chrift,  this  is  well:  But  we  muft  alfo  yield 
obedience  and  fubjedion.  Yet  when  faith  hath  brought 
forth  obedience,  you  cannot  be  juftified  by  it,  you  cannot 
be  favcd  by  your   obedience,  but  Chrift  alone  :    He  ls  the 

author 


The  EXCELLEN-CY  of  PeACE  vjitk   GOD.  tp^ 

author  and  finifier  of  our  faltfi,  and  a  Mediator  from  firfl  to 
laft. 

Now  all  that  come  to  clofe  with  the  appearance  of  Chriil 
in  their  ov/n  heart,  they  have  laid  hold  of  the  method  ap- 
pointed for  their  coming  to  him.  It  is  Chrift  they  muft 
Iiear ;  he  is  come  fo  near  to  men  that  they  may  hear  his  voice, 
and  hear  him  tell  us  our  very  thoughts.  Why  iliould  not  I 
hear  him  when  he  checks  me  and  reproves  me  for  fm  ?  He 
comes  near  and  tells  me  that  I  have  done  amifs  ;  Lord,  I 
have  done  inic^uity,  I  will  do  fo  no  mxore.  Thus  Chrift 
converfeth  with  his  people,  and  doth  not  only  check  and 
reprove  them,  when  thev  do  that  which  is  evil,  but  per- 
fuades  them  and  enables  them  to  do  good.  He  is  a  Medi- 
ator, he  is  a  middle  perfon,  and  hath  taken  flefh  upon  him, 
that  he  might  reconcile  them  to  God,  that  do  believe  in  him. 

Now,  \Y/hen  we  come  to  have  acquaintance  with  God, 
and  have  chofen  him  to  be  our  God,  he  teaches  us  to  do 
what  is  good,  and  reproves  us  for  what  evil  we  have  done. 
Who  canchoofea  better  guide,  to  lead  hixm  into  acquaintance 
with  God,  than  Chrift  that  is  converfant  with  us,  piercing 
into  our  thoughts,  and  fpeaking  to  us  ?  I  may  hear  him  with 
theinv/ard  ear  of  my  heart ;  when  I  do  evil  he  checks  me  for 
it,  and  tells  me  the  thing  I  (hould  feek  is  of  ineftimable  value  ; 
and  if  through  my  unbelief  and  carelefnefs  I  mifs  of  it,  it 
had  been  better  for  me  that  I  had  never  been  born  5  now  we 
are  in  the  way  of  coming  to  receive  the  end  of  our  faith,  the 
falvation  of  our  fouls,  let  us  not  negleB  fo  g-reat  falvatlon. 
No  man  can  fave  himfelf,  nor  fave  the  foul  of  his  brother, 
nor  find  a  ranfom,  nor  procure  an  offering  for  the  expiating 
of  his  fm  ;  therefore  let  every  one  that  would  have  his  fin 
expiated  and  pardoned,  and  cannot  be  fatisfied  and  quieted, 
till  he  hath  peace  with  God  j  let  him  come  to  Chrift,  the 
Mediator,  and  come  with  faith  and  truth  in  the  inward  parts, 
and  fubmit  to  him,  and  be  willing  to  be  ruled  by  him^,  then 
Chrift  will  fave  him,  and  prefenthirnivithout  fpot  and  bleniiftt. 
to  his  father. 

Conftder  that  thofe  that  are  the  people  of  God,  are  led  by 
the  Spirit  of  God.  They  mifs  their  way  to  reconciliation 
\^'ith  God,  that  love  any  other  way,  or  think  to  com.e  to 
God  any  other  way  than  by  Jefus,  the  Mediator,  their  la- 

B  b  bour 


ip4-        J^/^^  ExcELinNCY  of  Peace  with  GOD* 

hour  will  be  loil :  Therefore  I  muft  exhort  and  perfaads 
you  that  are  out  of  the  way,  that  you  would  take  God's  me-- 
thod,  and  come  into  God's  v/ay.  The  terms,  I  have  told 
you,  are  made  already  ;  the  bargain  is  not  to  make  now  ;  I 
will  give  fo  much  to  be  at  peace  with  God,  or  I  will  part 
with  this  or  the  other  thing  that  is  dear  to  me*  No,  the 
agreement  is  made  between  God  and  Chrift,  and  his  covenant 
is  ordered  in  all  tkmgs,  and  fare  ;  and  his  covenant  ftands 
fure  with  none,  but  thofe  that  are  m  Chrift  Jefus.  There 
Was  a  covenant  made  with  Ahraham  ;  i?i  thy  feed  fliall  all  the 
?iaticris  of  the  earth  bs  blejfed.  The  promife  is  made  to  the  feed, 
that  is,  to  thofe  that  are  in  Chrift ;  the  faithful  are  counted 
the  feed  ;  now  the  faithful  are  tho'e  that  are  obedient 
to  Chrift,  who  is  the  leed  of  the  promi^'e,  i?i  vohotn  all  the 
fam:Ues  of  the  earth  are  ulcffed.  They  muft*  come  to  Chrift 
the  feed,  thev  muft  not  rebel  aqainft  him  ',  thev  muft 
come  to  him,  and  believe  in  him  ;  be  there  never  fo 
many  nations  and  families  in  the  world,  the  promife  is 
jiot  to  them,  but  to  as  many  as  the  Lord  our  God  fhall 
call. 

Here  is  the  Way  for  people  to  lay  hold  of,  for  their" 
coming  into  acquaintance  with  God,  which  is  of  fo  great 
neceiTity  before  they  die  ;  they  muft  come  to  Chrift  him- 
fclf  by  his  Spirit  in  their  own  hearts.  We  need  not 
go  to  this  and  the  other  learned  man,  and  enquire  of  this 
and  the  other  fort  of  people;  but  we  muft  cry  to  God 
for  help  and  dire-ftion,  and  com.e  unto  him,  and  give  up 
all  the  powers  and  faculties  of  our  fouls  to  him,  to  be 
governed  by  him  :  God  will  have  fervants  that  will  be 
obedient  to  him  y  if  ever  we  come  to  obtain  falvation, 
We  muft  have  another  mafter,  one  is  ycur  majrer^  even 
Chrill ;  I  muft  come  under  the  government  of  Chrift, 
and  he  muft  lead  me,  and  rule  me,  if  I  will  be  a  child 
of  God* 

VV'hen  people  ccme  to  lee  there  is  no  eifedrual  Way, 
but  fubmitting  to  the  grace  of  God  in  their  ov/n  hearts, 
and  yielding  themfelves  up  to  the  dicftaces  of  the  Spirit 
of  Chrift  in  their  fouls  ;  when  they  come  to  this,  there 
are  many  hazards  and  difficulties  to  be  encountered  with  5 
there  is  the  appearance   of  the    crofs   of  Chrift,    and    we 

muft 


The  Excellency  of  Peace  with  GODg  ic^^ 
muft  take  up  this  crofs  if  we  will  follow  Chrift,  and  be 
obedient  in  all  things  unto  him.  This  is  that  which  will 
kill  all  my  pleafure,  lay  wafte  all  my  religion,  and  de- 
ftroy  my  hopes  ;  I  muft  be  like  a  man  that  built  a  houfe 
without  a  good  foundation ;  I  muft  pull  it  all  dow^n 
again,  and  I  muft  come  to  build  up  again  upon  a  new 
foundation. 

Here  many  have  turned  afide,  the  crofs  of  Chrift  hath 
feemed  to  them  fo  ftiarp,  and  hard  and  intolerable,  that 
they  could  not  bear  it;  they  would  not  be  at  the  charge 
of  fuch  a  rehgion ;  what,  muft  I  part  with  all  my  delights, 
and  my  beloved  lufts  and  pleafures,  and  all  my  inter- 
efts  in  the  world  for  Chrift  ?  I  cannot  part  with  thefe, 
thefe  things  lie  in  my  v/ay,  I  muft  rather  lofe  my  foul 
than  part  with  what  is  fo  grateful  to  me,  and  join  with 
the  light  of  mine  own  conicience,  and  the  truth  in  my 
inward  parts ',  what,  muft  not  I  have  fo  much  as  liberty 
of  thought  ?  W^liat,  m.uft  my  thoughts  be  regulated  by 
that  which  is  fo  crofs  and  repugnant  to  my  mind  ?  Muft 
I  throw  out  all  evil  thoughts  out  of  my  heart,  and  fuffer 
none  but  good  thoughts  to  remain  there?  '^ho  can  ftand 
here  ?  Who  can  bear  fuch  ftrictnefs  as  this  ?  Rather  than 
endure  this,  I  will  choofe  to  lofe  my  foul ;  many  have  loft  the 
truth  on  this  account,  and  many  are  in  danger  to  lofe  their 
fouls. 

If  there  be  in  you  any  defire  of  peace  with  God,  that 
you  may  not  go  hence  before  you  have  attained  it,  take 
hold  of  the  prefent  opportunity  ;  hardnefs  of  heart  is  a  def- 
perate  plague,  it  comes  from  a  long  obftinate  continuance 
in  fm  ;  when  we  have  vjithftoocl  the  day  of  God's  patience, 
and  Ion g-fuff cringe  and  grieved  the  Holy  Spirit  of  God  ;  then 
God  grjeth  us  up  to  our  own  hearts  hjis,  becaufq  ive  will  nop 
hearken  to  the  voice  of  the  charmer^  charm  he  7iever  fo  ivifely  ; 
when  we  ftop  our  ears,  and  will  not  attend  to  the  calls  of 
God;  when  men  will  go  on,  and  nothing  can  ftop  them,  in 
the  career  of  their  lufts  and  pleafures,  but  they  will  retain 
their  carnal  delight  and  friendfhip  with  the  worM  ;  this  hard- 
nefs  of  heart  is  a  defperate  plague ;  take  heed  of  it,  that  it 
doth  not  overtake  you,  and  bring  ruin  and  deftrudion  upon 
you :    Couftuer  the  patience  and  long-fuffering  of  God,  and 

kt 


ic?5         *  True  Christianity. 

let  his  goochiefs  lead  you  to  repentance  :  Confider  God  hath 
"Limited  to  be  gracious  to  ycu^  he  hath  exercifed  much  lorig- 
fujfen'ng  and  patience  towards  you  ;  whereas  he  might  have 
cut  you  off  long  ago,  and  given  you  your  portion  v/ith  the 
damned  in  hell  ;  but  he  hath  hearkened  to  the  Mediator  that 
hath  pleaded  for  you  j  he  hath  e:xtended  his  patience  and 
long-fulfenng  to  the  ivicked  tind  rebellious  alfo  ;  and  for  this 
realbn,  the  apoftlc  tells  us,  that  Chrift  is  the  Saviour  of  all 
me,'7,  elpeclally  of  them  that  believe, 

No\y  the  patience  and  long-fuffering  of  God  hath  been 
lengthened  out  to  all,  and  we  have  not  improved  it.  Con- 
fcience  hath  been  fenfible  of  the  inward  ftrokes  and  rebukes 
of  God  for  fm,  and  of  the  inward  calls  of  his  grace  to 
bring  us  to  repentance  ;  but  we  have  not  regarded  thefe 
calls,  nor  hearkened  to  the  voice  of  God,  fo  as  to  hear,  that 
our  fouls  might  live  ;  O  !  let  us  not  put  off  our  repentance 
any  longer  ;  but  to-day ^  ivhile  it  is  called  to-day ^  let  us  hear 
his  voice,  and  harden  not  our  hearts,  but  be  of  a  tender  heart  ; 
let  our  hearts  be  foftened,  and  tendered  under  the  word  of 
God,  and  under  the  ftrokes  of  his  judgment.  If  ever  the 
Lord  bring  you  under  a  tender  frame,  you  will  receive  the 
word  of  God  with  meeknefs,  and  mix  it  with  faith  \  then  it 
will  work  efi-edualiy  to  the  amendment  of  your  lives ;  it 
will  work  faith  in  thofe  that  are  unbelievers,  and  ftrengthen 
the  faith  of  thofe  that  believe.  Then  v/e  fhall  have  caufe 
to  blefs  the  Lord,  and  praise  and  magnify  his  great  nam.e  for 
his  patience,  long-fuffering  and  mercy,  which  at  this  day  he 
hadi  lengthened  out,  and  graciouily  extended  to  us, 

S  E  R  M  O  N     XVIIL 
True   Christlanity. 

"Preached    at    Grjce-ChurCH-Street,    April  io,    i5>2. 

^  I  ^  H  E  inftitution  of  the  Chriftian  religion  v/as  for  this 

1^        purpofe,    that  holinefs   and  rishteoufnefs    might    be 

-*^      brou^dit  forth   in  the  earth  ;    that  God,  through  his 

Son  Jcfus  Chrift,  midit  takedelirjn  in  the  Tons  and  daughters 


)f 


True  Christianity.  i^y 

of  men,  that  they  might  be  reconciled  to  him  ;  for  that  ivkicfi 
the  Iotlv  could  not  do,  by  reafojt  of  its  "ajeaknefs^  God  hath  had 
a  purpofe  to  do  by  his  Son,  and  to  him  he  ga've  all  poiver  in 
Heave^t  and  Earth,  that  thereby  he  might  be  enabled  to 
perform  the  great  work  of  God,  in  eftabhihing  righteoufnefs, 
and  in  bringing  forth  a  holy  people,  to  ferve  a  holy  God. 
This  is  the  great  biciung  that  is  come  to  us,  and  to  all  man- 
kind, through  our  biefied  Lord  and  Saviour,  Jefus  Chrifl, 
that  came  to  turn  every  one  from  the  evil  of  their  ivays.  That 
is  the  way  and  method  by  which  our  Lord  Jefus  accomplifh- 
ed  the  end  of  his  coming,  and  the  will  of  his  Heavenly  Fa- 
ther ;  Mofes  and  ail  his  waihings,  offerings,  and  facrifices, 
could  not  make  clean  and  purge  the  conicience  j  and  by  ail 
his  offerings  and  facrifices,  he  could  not  reconcile  us  to  God  : 
But  Jefus,  by  his  once  cjjering  hi?rfelf,  did  forever  perfech 
them  that  are  fanclifted  ;  and  by  o?ie  offering,  reconciled  us 
to  the  Father,  and  fo  brings  forth  a  holy  generation  unto 
God,  through  regeneration  and  the  fanttification  of  the  Spirit. 

And  feeing  the  Lord  hath  been  pleaded  in  the  riches  of 
his  grace  to  open  this  new  and  living  way,  for  man's  return- 
ing again  into  unity  and  fellov/ihip  with  his  Maker,  the 
queftion,  miy  friends,  that  I  would  put  to  you  on  the  behalf 
of  God,  is,  for  all  of  you  to  confider,  whether  it  is  not  beft 
for  every  one  of  us  to  lay  hold  of  falvation,  to  lay  hold  of 
that  bleiling  wlierewith  the  Lord  hath  blelTed  us,  that  fo  the 
principal  inftitution  of  Chriflianity  might  not  only  be  named 
and  fpoken  of,  but  might  come  to  be  enjoyed  and  v/itneffed 
in  every  one  of  our  own  fouls  ;  and  that  all  might  wait 
with  expedation  on  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrifl:,  for  fulfilling  of 
this  great  work  in  themfelves. 

There  is  a  general  notion  among  people,  that  Heaven  is  a 
holy  place,  and  that  nothing  that  is  unclean  can  enter  into  it, 
to  have  a  habitation  there,  when  time  in  this  world  fhall  be 
no  more  with  us  ;  and  that  time  which  we  have  given  us,  I 
am  fure  is  given  us  of  God,  as  an  opportunity  of  fitting  and 
preparing  us  for  his  dwelling-place;  and  everv  day  and  hour 
of  it  ought  to  be  employed  in  that  great  work,  tliat  fo  we 
might  draw  nearer  and  nearer  to  that  ftate  and  condition  that 
fuits  and  befits  that  holy  dwelling  where  faints  and  angels, 
for  evermore,  praife  the  great  and  glorious  God  :    So  that  I 

aiij 


igS  True  Christianity. 

am  perfuaded  you  believe,  that  you  and  ail  of  us,  are  to  be 
accountable  to  God  for  all  tihe  time  he  hath  bellowed  upon 
us,  whether  we  u!e  it  to  the  purpofes  for  which  he  hath 
given  it,  or  whether  we  railpend  our  time  upon  thofe  things 
that  are  not  profitable  to  us ;  and  upon  thefe  confiderations, 
we  had  need  all  of  us  to  take  heed  to  our  prcfent  ftate 
that  we  are  come  to,  and  are  arrived  at  in  the  prefent  time  ; 
as  for  the  future  time,  that  we  all  know  we  are  not  fure  o£; 
and  the  future  f^ate  that  we  may  hope  to  come  to,  there  is 
no  certainty  of  it,  unlefs  there  be  an  improvement  of  the 
prefent  tinie,  and  the  opportunities  of  our  prefent  ftate : 
Therefore  every  one  fhould  apply  their  hearts  unto  the 
feeking  of  wifdom  and  underftanding,  and  unto  God,  that 
he  may  give  us  to  underftand  our  ftate,  and  our  prefent 
fitnefs  or  unfitneis  for  the  kingdom  of  glory  and  hap- 
pinefs,  and  of  that  holy  dwelling  we  hope  to  enjoy  forever. 

If  I  will  but  turn  my  mind  inward,  to  the  ferious  confi- 
deration  of  my  prefent  ftate  and  condition,  I  can  tell  whe- 
ther T  am -fit  or  unfit  to  approach  God's  prefence  j  and 
if  I  find  I  am  unnt^  I  muft  have  recourfe  to  the  divine 
working  of  that  great  power,  which  God  hath  ordained 
and  appointed  for  this  purpofe  ;  I  muft  come  to  him  to 
work  all  my  works  in  me,  and  for  me,  according  to  his 
good  pleafure  ;  and  that  he  will  never  do,  unlefs  it  be  by 
crofting  mc  in  my  carnal  pleafures  and  corrupt  inclina- 
tions ;  for  that  \<'hich  pleafcth  man,  doth  not  pieafe  God  ; 
And  God  will  not  revoke  the  holy  fcriptures,  that  tell  us, 
that  they  vchich  live  in  pleaTure^  are  dead  vchde  they  live ; 
they  that  are  indulgent  to  their  own  affections,  and  their 
own  delights,  and  their  ox^/n  himiours,  they  are  not  at  all 
ready  to  pleafc  and  glorify  God  j  they  arc  not  fitted  for  it, 
therefore  he  never  ianctifies,  nor  brings  any  into  a  true 
Cliriftian  ftate,  but  through  a  daily  crofs ',  lo  that  if  I  am 
not  already  fitted  and  prepared  to  do  that  which  is  plea(- 
ing  to  God,  I  may  be  fitted  by  taking  up  a  daily  crofs, 
to   glorify  God  here,   and   enjoy  him  forever. 

"V^'hat  thofe  things  are  that  you  are  to  do,  I  need  not 
tell  you,  nor  what  you  have  done.  I  judge  no  man  : 
There  is  one  that  judgerh,  he  will  tell  you  if  you  ask 
him,  \x'hat  your  ftate  and  condition  isi    he  will  tell  the 

drunkard^ 


True  Christiaj^ity,  rp^ 

drunkard,  if  he  ask  him,  whether  he  is  fit  for  Heaven  j 
and  alfo  the  proud  and  haughty  perfons  whether  they  arc 
fit  for  Heaven  :  Let  fuch  as  are  guilty  of  thefe  or  any 
other  fins,  enquire  of  the  oracle  in  their  own  bofoms,  amt 
not  I  fit  for  Heaven,  notwithflanding  all  this  ?  He  will 
tell  thee  no,  there  is  ;/o  unclean  thing  Jhall  enter  there^ 
nothing  that  defiles,  nothing  that  hurts  or  opprefies  j  the 
proud,  peevifh,  malicious  perfon,  that  is  hurtful  to  others^ 
that  hurts  his  neighbour,  is  fhut  out.  There  fin II  in  no 
wife  enter  into  Heaven  any  thing  that  dfileth.  Rev.  xxi, 
27.  For  vjithout  are  dogSy  and  forcerers,  and  iv  ho  re  monger  Sy 
and  murderers,  and  idolaters,  and  whofoever  loveth  and  tnak- 
eth  a  lie.  Rev.  xxii,  i^-.  None  fhall  enter  into  the  holy 
city  of  God,  but  thofe  that  are  purified  and  purged  from 
all  iniquity  :  Therefore  God  hath  fent  his  Ton  Jefus,  fee- 
ing none  elfe  could  do  it :  Mofes  and  the  Prophets  could 
not  do  it,  therefore  he  fent  Jefus  to  hlefs  us,  in  turning 
every  one  of  us  from  cur  iniquities,  and  from  our  evil 
W^ays  y  one  man  hath  this  evil  way,  another  that  evil  way  : 
It  is  all  one  to  him  ;  his  work  is  to  turn  every  one  of  us 
from  our  evil  ways. 

But  why  then  (you  may  fay)  are  fo  few  turned  from 
their  evil  ways  throughout  Chriftendom,  where  Chrift  is 
believed  in,  profeffcd,  read  and  heard  ;  that  yet  fo  few 
are  converted  and  turned  ?.  for  we  fee  great  numbers  of 
liars,  fwearers,  drunkards,  and  unclean  perfons  among  us, 
where  Chrift  is  cried  up  at  a  mighty  rate,  and  yet  peo- 
ple are  not  turned  from  the  evil  of  their  ways /there  is 
fomething  fure  that  is  the  reafon  of  it. 

I  would  have  all  of  you  confider  what  the  reafon  of  it 
is,  that  thofe  that  profefs  to  be  Chriftians,  are  not  turned 
from  the  evil  of  their  ways  ;  for  Chrift  hath  all  power  in 
Heaven  and  Earth  cormnitted  to  hitUy  and  he  is  able  to  Ao 
it,  and  he  was  Tent  from  God  on  purpofe  to  do  it  j  but 
this  is  a  certain  truth,  it  is  not  done  j  and  what  is  the 
reafon  of  it  ?  He  came  to  his  own,  and  his  own  received 
kirn  not  ;  what  is  the  reafon  ?  He  hath  caufed  his  grace 
to  appear  to  every  man  in  the  world,  and  yet  they  are 
not  taught  by  it.  Here  is  an  object:  of  faith ''for  all,'  and 
God  hath  offered  faith   to   ail  men,  fuice  he    hath  raifed 

up 


200  True  Christianity, 

up  Jefus  from  the  dead,  yet  men  have  it  not  :  "VThat  is 
the  reafon  that  this  nation,  as  well  as  other  nations,  have 
been  puzzled  about  it,  to  find  out  things  t"hat  are  To  plain 
in  fcripture,  in  relation  to  the  love  of  God  to  mankind, 
and  in  relation  to  Chrift  Jefus  the  Saviour,  and  fo  lit- 
tle of  this  work  is  wrought   among   us  ? 

Some  fay  there  is  never  a  man  in  the  world  turned  from 
the  evil  of  their  ways  ;  they  live  in  fin,  and  they  are  un- 
der a  fixed  necelTity  of  continuing  in  it,  and  lying  under 
it  all  the  days  of  their  lives,  for  all  this  belief  of  the  love 
of  God,  and  the  power  of  Chrifl:,  and  the  profeffion  of 
it  :  Some  lay  there  is  never  a  Chriftian  in  the  v/orid 
can  live  one  day  without  fin,  but  will  defile  himfelf  with 
one  thing  or  another  ;  that  the  devil  will  prevail  over  men, 
and  fm  mix  itfelf  with  our  prayers  and  alms,  and  all  our 
holv  duties  ,  fo  that  there  is  nothing  clean  ;  nothing  pure 
that  we  can  perform  to  God.  There  are  others  that  are 
not  fo  rafh  in  their  judgment,  and  not  fo  inconfiderate, 
but  they  will  believe  fome  men  and  women  may  con\e  to 
a  pov/er  and  ability  to  withftand  fatan,  and  refift  him  in 
his  temptations  ;  and  that  there  are  thole  that  have  been 
turned  from  the  evil  of  their  ways,  but  they  are  not ; 
^^hat  is  the  matter  ?  You  have  fpent  time  about  this,  what 
is  the  reafon  vou  are  not  turned  from  the  evil  of  your 
V/avs  ?  The  devil  hath  told  the  people  in  former  days, 
that  the  reafon  why  men  live  in  fin,  is,  becaufe  God  hath 
appointed  it  fo  to  be  :  And  that  hath  fcopt  the  mouth  of 
manv  a  plain-hearted  tender  Chriftian  ;  they  have  cried  un- 
to God  under  the  weight  of  their  fm,  and  they  iee  no 
deliverance  after  all  their  prayers  and  tears,  becaufe  they 
have  been  told  they  cannot  do  it,  and  that  God  hath  ap- 
pointed it  fliould  be  fo,  and  required  them  to  do  what 
they  cannot  do  j  and  with  fome  the  cii^m  of  fin  hath 
taken  away  the  fenfe  of  fin,  and  they  go^Si  to  perdition 
in  their  fecuritv. 

I  hope,  my  "friends,  that  God  hath  opened  your  eyes, 
and  that  you  have  better  thoughts  of  God,  than  that  he  hath 
let  you  a  work  and  a  labour  to  do,  and  by  his  eternal  power 
and  decree,  hath  ordained  that  you  fiiould  never  do  it,  but 
damn  you  after  all.     Confider,  there  arc  men  and  women  in 

bondage 


True  Christianity.  20 r 

bondage  and  captivity,  and  God  hath  fent  his  Son  into  the 
world  to  redeem  them  from  all  iniquity,  and  turn  them  from 
their  evil  ways  ;  we  are  not  turned,  what  is  the  reafon  of 
it  ?  I  befcech  you  in  the  love  of  God,  be  ferious  in  this 
matter  ;  ferious  you  muft  be,  one  time  or  other  j  when  you 
come  to  the  tribunal  of  God,  there  mud:  be  a  reafon  given, 
or  if  not,  you  muft  be  fpeechlefs;  therefore  find  it  out  here. 
What  is  the  reafon  that  I  am  not  turned  from  my  evil  ways, 
fince  God  hath  fent  his  Son  Je-us  to  do  it,  and  given  him 
power  to  do  it ;  why  then  is  it  not  done  ? 

Some  perfons  upon  enquiiy,  and  after  their  fearch,  have 
brought  forth  this  reafon  :  They  have  alleged  the  great 
power  the  devil  hath  :  The  devil  is  fo  ftrong,  and  hath 
fuch  a  power  to  darken  their  minds,  and  enchant  their  affec- 
tions;  he  injeds  and  brings  things  into  their  minds  before 
they  are  aware  of  it.  I  confefs  this,  and  I  will  fay  a  little  to 
it,  I  will  confefs  as  much  as  the  argument  will  bear,  that 
the  devil  hath  great  power,  and  a  way  of  injeding  things 
into  the  fpirits  and  affections  of  people  :  He  is  God's  enemy 
and  ours  too,  and  he  lies  in  wait,  and  will  do  as  much  as  he 
can  againft  us,  that  no  one  fhall  get  to  Heaven;  if  we 
come  thither,  it  iliall  be  againft  his  will  :  I  have  heard  fome 
magnify  the  devil's  pov/er  to  fuch  a  degree,  that  he  hath  fuch 
power  over  a  man  or  woman,  that  he  is  able  to  keep  them  in 
fin  all  their  life,  though  God  hath  put  forth  the  exceeding 
greatnefs  of  his  power  for  their  redemption  :  This  is  hard 
to  believe,  that  the  devil  is  ftronger  than  Chrift  Jefus  :  Wdl^ 
as  great  as  his  power  is,  we  are  in  a  capacity  of  knowing  a 
greater  power  ;  the  apoftle  did  comfort  the  Chriftians,  not- 
withftanding  all  the  power  the  devil  ufed  v/ith  them  to  de- 
file them,  and  keep  them  from  inheriting  the  kingdom  of 
God,  I.  John  i.  4.  You  are  of  God,  little  children,  and  have 
overcome,  because  greater  is  he  that  is  in  you,  than  he  that  is 
in  the  world,  I  would  have  you  believe  this  ;  I  do  believe 
it  heartily,  t4ie  devil  only  rules  in  the  hearts  of  the  children  of 
difohedieiice  ;  and  he  that  hath  the  Holy  Ghoft  in  him,  hath 
one  greater  than  he  that  is  in  the  world  :  If  you  believe  this, 
then  the  queftion  is  thus  far  anfwered,  that  we  have  a  Sa- 
viour, a  Deliverer,  that  is  more  able  to  redeem  us,  than  the 
devil  is  to  keep  us  in  bondage :  I  hope  we  are  pretty  well, 

C  c  now 


zo:^  True  CtiRtsrtAniTY. 

now  we  know  we  have  a  keeper:  ''^e  are  aflaulted  with  the 
devil's  temptations^  and  they  are  powerful  j  how  powerful? 
He  hath  fo  much  power,  as  he  finds  in  us  an  inclination  to 
yield  and  join  with  his  temptations :  If  he  comes  with  a 
temptation  to  a  man  or  woman  that  hath  no  inclination 
to  that  thing  he  tempts  them  to;  if  they  hate  that  thing, 
then  there  is  an  end  of  it :  The  devil's  power  lies  in  this, 
V'hen  he  brings  a  temptation  that  I  have  an  inclination  to, 
then  he  hath  a  party  within  me;  if  that  be  rooted  out,  what 
lignifies  his  power,  let  him  bring  ever  fo  many  temptations  ? 

There  are  many  of  you  that  uncierfland  what  I  lay  ;  if  a 
temptation  comes  to  a  man  to  commit  an  ad  of  uncleanne^s, 
if  he  be  a  chafte  man,  there  is  no  inclination  in  him  to  )ield 
to  it,  or  join  to  it,  he  hates  it,  it  is  an  abomination  in  itself, 
and  grievous  and  provoking  to  God,  if  he  doth  it;  a  man 
abhors  it,  then  what  powerful  temptation  is  it?  If  it  light 
upon  a  man  of  an  unclean  mind,  that  is  defiled  in  his  heart, 
he  hath  not  only  the  devil,  but  his  own  luft  and  corrupt  in- 
clination to  contend  with;  but  if  a  man  believeth  in  Chrill, 
he  relies  upon  him,  and  he  will  fay,  Lord,  thou  feefb  I 
am  under  temptation  ;  here  is  a  great  and  powerful  temp-f 
tation,  I  can  never  v^'ithftand  it,  but  I  truft  in  thy  nam.3 
and  power,  do  thou  arife  and  deliver  me  from  it  i  Thus 
\v/hen  God  doth  arife,  his  enemies  will  be  fcattered  ;  tho' 
the  devil's  power  be  great,  yet  there  i*;  a  deUverer  that 
is  ftronger  than  he:  The  reafon  of  mens  being  overcome, 
doth  not  lie  in  the  greatenefs  of  the  deviFs  power,  but  in 
the  frailty  of  our  nature. 

Som.e  will  fay,  that  our  natures  are  fo  frail,  weak  and 
depraved,  that  we  can  do  nothing  as  as  we  ought  to  do  5 
this  is  given  for  another  reafon,  and  there  is  truth  in  it,  but 
that  truth  is  but  a  delufion ;  they  would  excufe  themselves 
when  they  have  yielded  to  a  temptation,  I  am  weak  and  frail, 
I  cannot^  renfc  the  devil ;  though  the  devil  is  not  ftronger 
than  Chrift,  yet  he  is  ftronger  than  I,  he  worketh  with  all 
his  might,  power,  and  fubtiky  to  deceive  me,  and  enfnare 
me,  and  overcome  me;  I  am  a  poor,  frail  creature,  therefore 
I  mufl  yield  to  him  :  This  is  a  carnal  reafon  ;  as  tho'  I  were  to 
grapple  with  the  devil  in  mine  own  ftrength,  and  to  dcUvcr 
my  loul,  as  if  God  hath  left  mc  to  myiclf :  If  thou   fay, 

Lord, 


True  Chkistianjty.  20^ 

Lore!,  thou  haft  fet  me  to  grapple  with  the  devil,  and  to 
withftand  his  temptations,  Lord  I  am  not  able  to  do  it  my- 
felf ;  God  will  anfwer  thee,  1  hwce  laid  help  upon  one  that 
is  fnighty,  that  is  able  to  fuve  to  the  utterm^ft^  a  I  that  come 
unto  me  by  him  ;  fo  that  thou  art  not  to  overcome  the  devil, 
by  thine  own  power  and  ability :  If  any  man  reafon  thus, 
his  reafon  is  out  of  doors  ;  for  we  are  faved  by  Chrift, 
therefore  I  cannot  plead  my  ov/n  frailty,  feeing  God  hath 
provided  a  rock  for  my  defence  that  isjirofiger  and  higher  than 
I,   that  I  may  truft  and  rely  upon. 

So  that  you  fee  the  frailties  of  our  nature  is  not  a  fuf- 
ficient  reafon,  we  muft  leek  further  for  it  )  et  ;  and  when 
we  come  to  fearch  narrowly,  and  to  the  bottom  of  our 
hearts,  I  will  tell  you  here  it  refts  ',  it  hath  its  centre  in 
the  perverfenefs  ot  the  will  that  is  in  man,  that  is  con- 
trary to  the  will  of  God  ;  it  is  the  oppofition  of  our  will 
to  the  will  of  God  ;  we  may  talk  what  we  will  of  falva- 
tion  and  Chriftianity,  that  we  have  a  mind  to  be  faved,  and 
go  unto  God  when  we  die,  and  to  enjoy  the  happinefs  of 
Heaven  to  eternity  :  \Fe  may  talk  thus  j  but  as  long  as 
the  perverfenefs  of  the  will  continues,  I  am  the  caufe  of 
my  own  ruin  ',  if  I  grow  in  a  profelTion,  this  perverfe 
Will,  will  grow  up  with  me  under  that  profeflion,  and  un^ 
der  any  profefTion  ;  change  your  judgment  and  opinion  as 
often  as  you  lift,  this  will  go  along  with  \ou  ,  the  rea- 
fon and  the  bottom  of  things  will  come  to  this,  none  can 
overcome  the  devil,  nor  be  a  difciple  of  Chrift,  without 
a  daily  crofs.  When  people  come  to  this,  to  fee  a  ne- 
ceflity  of  taking  up  the  croHs  of  Chrift,  and  denying  them- 
felves  j  when  it  comes  to  this,  there  are  iuch  fhifts  and 
evafions,  and  arts  that  men  have  to  cover  them- elves,  to 
make  themselves  and  others  believe,  that  fuch  and  fuch  a 
thing  is  confiftent  with  the  will  of  God,  and  that  they 
may  do  it,  and  fave  their  own  fouls  ;  but  they  boaft  of 
their  own  deceit,  and  are  glad  that  they  can  make  a  fhift 
to  deceive  their  own  fouls  ;  fo  that  there  is  no  hopes 
of  their  ever  being  purged  and  cleanfed,  and  of  having 
any  holy  work  brought  forth  by  them  ;  but  when  a  man 
comes  to  be  fenfible  of  his  fpiritual  condition,  and  is  fm- 
cere  and  honeft^  be  will  be  ready  to  fay  unto  God,  if  I 

be 


^04  True  Christianity, 

be  deceived  in  any  thing,  open  mine  eyes,  Lord  ;  if  I  in- 
dul^Q  my -elf  in  any  thing  that  hath  a  contrariety  to  thy 
holy  will,  Lord,  I  be-eech  thee  dif^cover  it  to  me;  fuch 
a  man  will  lay  afiie  his  own  will,  if  it  be  contrary  to 
God's  wul  :  Now  here  is  one  that  is  a  very  fit  objed: 
for  Chriil:  to  work  upon  ;  he  will  not  be  long  before  he 
be  favingiy  convinced.  When  a  man  comes  to  the  word, 
he  is  convinced  of  fuch  an  evil  in  his  confcience,  where 
nobody  but  God  and  himfelf  were  privy  to  it,  or  had  any 
knowledge  of  it.  It  is  difcovered  that  he  Hveth  in  fuch 
a  praclice  as  is  contrary  to  the  mind  of  God.  God  hath 
convinced  thee,  that  thou  loveft  it,  and  iiveft  in  it,  and 
if  thou  wilt  but  break  off  that  evil  pradice,  that  he  hath 
{cnt  his  Son  Je'iis  Chrifc  to  turn  thee  from  every  evil 
way,   and   to   redeem  thee  frcm  all  iniquity. 

This  truth  hath  a  favour  in  it  ;  and  if  thou  art  fmcere 
and  upright,  there  is  nothing  for  thee  to  fay  or  do,  but  to 
fet  thvfelf  againft  every  thing  that  is  contrary  to  the  mind 
of  God,  and  thou  wilt  have  light  from  Heaven  fent  to 
guide  thee  and  dired  thee  in  thy  way  thither  j  if  thou 
wilt  but  receive  that  grace  that  is  freely  given  of  God 
unto  thee  through  Jefus  Chrift,  he  will  certainly  purge  thee 
and  cleanfe  thee  fl"om  thy  fin,  and  turn  thee  from  every 
evil  way,  notwithftanding  the  perverfenefs  of  thine  own 
will  and  the  power  of  fatan  ;  and  he  will  work  in  thy  heart 
by  his  grace,  till  it  hath  brought  thee  off  from  thine  ini- 
quity, and  wrought  iniquity  out  of  thee,  and  fo  bring  forth 
a  holy  work  to  God. 

W^'^ithout  faith  it  is  impofjible  to  pleafe  God  :  We  cannot 
pleai'e  God  without  faith,  nor  with  it  neither,  unlefs  it 
be  the  gift  of  God.  There  is  a  great  deal  of  faith  in  this 
niition,  and  in  this  city  ;  but  do  you  believe  all  their  ways 
ai-e  pleafmg  to  God  ?'  We  mud  difringuifli  of  faith  here  ; 
when  the  apoftle  would  give  a  defcription  of  faving  faith, 
he  tells  you,  that  it  is  the  operation  of  Gcd  ;  if  I  have 
not  that  operation,  and  a  regard  to  it,  how  can  I  have 
ii:at  working?  But  fmce  it  is  the  difpenfation  of  the  gof- 
pcl  of  Chnft,  and  defign  of  Chrift,  to  turn  people  to  the 
operation  of  God  in  tiieir  own  hearts,  we  would  have  them 
believe  it. 

If 


True  Christianity,  20^ 

If  there  be  a  drunkard  or  a  prophane  perfon,  if  God 
work  faith  in  his  heart,  he  will  be  convinced  and  fay,  what 
a  ftroke  hath  the  Lord  given  upon  my  confcience,  and 
he  will  fee  it  is  the  Lord's  work :  Then  believe,  whoever 
thou  art,  and  lay  hold  of  this,  for  this  is  the  operation 
of  God  upon  a  /believing  foul,  the  ftroke  of  God's  hand 
and  the  power  of  God,  and  then  thou  haft  the  work  of 
faith,  by  Vv^hich  faith  thou  art  enabled  to  keep  thyfelf 
from  that  thing  that  God  fmote  thee  for,  and  before  he 
gives  thee  over,  the  fame  hour  thou  wilt  find  the  fame  hand 
fmiting  thee  for  another  ftn  ;  this  will  be  hke  fire  in  thy 
bones,  kindUng  up  thy  zeal  and  hatred  againft  thy  fin,  and 
will  kindle  in  thee  a  high  fire  of  love  to  God,  that  hath  not 
let  thee  he  in  thy  miiery,  but  minded  thy  condition,  and 
had  compaflion  on  thee :  This  love  God  will  fhed  abroad, 
which  will  run  over  thy  heart,  he  hath  jhed  abroad  his  love, 
faith  the  apoftle,  Rom.  v.  upon  cur  hearts  by  the  Holy 
Ghojty  to  conftrain  us  to  yield  obedience;  when  thou  falleft 
into  the  way  of  faith,  which  is, the  operation  of  God,  the  de- 
vil comes  and  knocks  and  bounces  on  this  fide  and  that, 
but  God  will  not  fail  to  give  thee  power  to  withftand  temp- 
tation. 

The  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  worketh  in  people's  hearts,  to 
turn  them  from  the  evil  of  their  ways,  that  fo  he  may  bring 
forth  holinefs  and  righteoufnefs,  and  redeem  a  people  from 
under  the  bondage  of  fin,  and  fit  them  for  the  kingdom  of 
his  Father,  and  to  ufe  the  apoftle's  words,  prefent  them  before 
the  throne  of  God,  voithout  fpot  and  blafnelefs  ;  he  will  pur fy 
them,  and  fprinkle  them  from  an  evil  confcience  ^  their  bodies 
being  wafhed  with  pure  water,  he  will  fanclify  the  creature ; 
his  v/ord  is  nigh  them,  and  in  their  hearts,  he  begins  a  work 
in  m.any,  and   will  carry  it  on  in  one,  and  in  another. 

Here  lies  the  chief  work,  it  is  the  good  hand  of  God  muft 
work  all  our  works  in  ns,  and  for  us,  according  to  the  good 
pleafure  of  his  will :  W^ork  in  you  a  v/illingnefs  to  bear  the 
crofs  of  Chrift,  and  to  deny  yourfelves ;  he  will  operate 
for  you  for  this  purpofe,  therefore  you  muft  commit  your- 
felves to  him. 

It  is  not  our  preaching  which  will  convert  men  to  God, 
but  it  is  the  work  of  God  that  is  pure,  which  converts  the 

foul 


2oS  His  Prayer  after  Sermon, 

foul  to  God,  and  that  cleanfes,  fits  and  prepares  it  for  the 
kingdom  of  Heaven,  Pfalm  xix.  7.  "^'^e  muft  come  to 
the  word  of  God,  that  will  convince  us,  reprove  us,  ftrength- 
en,  encourage  and  illuminate  us,  and  do  in  us  and  for  us 
all  that  we  ftand  in  need  of:  To  him.  be  all  the  praife  that 
Worketh  all  in  you,  and  prepares  vou  to  be  a  peculiar  people 
to  himfdf.  The  word  of  his  grace  I  commit  to  you  all,  take 
heed  of  doing  any  thing  contrary  to  it ;  if  you  do,  that 
which  would  be  your  comfort,  will  be  your  condemnation. 

His  Prayer  after  Sermon. 

nLES SED  God,  and  Father  of  Life  !  thou  art  ghrious 
jD  in  holinefs,  infinite  in  power y  the  eternal  God ;  thy  do^ 
minion  is  an  everlajting  dominion^  thy  kingdom  is  without 
end, 

O  Lord !  we  hlefs  and  praife  thy  glorious  name^  that  thou 
haft  made  known  thyfelf  among  the  fons  and  daughters  of 
men  ;  thou  hafl  repealed  to  us  in  thy  word  the  manner  of  thy 
kingdom  among  us,  in  fetting  up  righteoufnefs  and  truth y 
and  throwing  down  iniquity. 

Powerful  God  of  Life  I  fuhjed:  the  minds  and  hearts  of 
all  thy  people  to  thy  dtvine  power  and  pleafwe,  and  let  the 
dread  of  thyfelf  rejl  upon  our  fpiritSy  that  euery  one  of  us  may 
fear  to  fin  againft  thee,  and  to  do  defpite  to  thy  Spirit,  the 
Spirit  of  thy  grace,  that  ive  may  every  one  of  us  turn  from 
cur  iniquities,  the  evil  of  our  hearts  and  ways,  that  we  may 
praife  thee  in  the  land  of  the  living,  and  may  become  faithjul 
witne(fes  of  that  falvation  which  thou  haft  wrought  for  uSy 
and  for  all  them  that  believe, 

Poiverful  God  of  Life  I  the  fouls  of  thy  people  which  thou 
haft  gathered ,  out  of  the  world,  do  praife  and  magnify  thy 
name  for  what  i^ey  have  feen,  and  for  what  thou  haft  vor  ought  ; 
thou  haft  luonderfully  appeared  in  thy  love,  and  brought  fal^ 
vat  ion  near,  and  gathered  many  into  it,  it  is  become  a  ivall 
and  a  bulwark  to  them,  that  :hey  are  defended  from  the  evil 
one,   and  from   the  evils   of  the  world. 

0  dear  eft  God  of  Life  I  raife  up  poor  and  needy  fouls  cut 
$fthe  dujly  that  they  may  ferve  thee,  a7id  obey  thee^  and  do 

thy 


His  Prayer  after  Sermon.  207 

thy  ivill,  and  flew  forth  thy  power  and  Jirength  in  their 
voeakncfs  and  infirmity ^  that  they  may  trufl  in  theCy  and  re- 
ly upon  thee  in  the  time   of  their  diftrefs, 

Bleffcd  Father  of  Life  and  Power  1  give  grace  to  the  hum- 
hie  and  meeky  and  teach  them  in  thy  way.  We  have  had 
experience^  0  Lord  I  of  thy  fulfilling  thy  promifes  ;  thou 
art  Jiill  fulfilling  of  them  to  all  that  truly  voait  upon  thee  ; 
thou  haft  begun  a  good  work^  carry  it  on  to  the  pratfe 
and  exaltation    of  thy  great  name, 

Blejfd  Father  !  reveal  thy  povjer  more  and  7nore  in  the 
nations  round  abouty  that  they  that  long  after  the  life  of 
the  Living  God,  m.ay  come  and  fmd  thee,  and  behold  thy 
divine  appearance^  through  t/iQ  Son  of  thy  Love,  in  their 
own  fpiritSy  that  fo  they  may  receive  thy  word,  and  thy 
word  may  quicken  them^  that  they  m.ay  ftand  up  from  the 
dead,  and  live  ;  for  it  is  the  living,  the  living,  0  Lord  I 
that  praife  thee,  that  honour  thy  name,  that  offer  praife,  and 
glorify  thee, 

O  blefed  Father  of  Life  I  carry  on  thy  great  work  vcith 
power  throughout  all  the  earth  ;  gather  a  remnant  of  thy 
feed  that  are  fcattered,  and  bring  them  home  into  the  king- 
dom of  thy  dear  Son,  that  vje  may  praife  thee  together,  and 
rejoice   in  thy  name. 

Dear  Father  I  thou  haft  faved  this  nation,  the  land  of 
our  nativity,  to  this  day,  by  a  wonderful  power,  by  thy  poiv- 
Crful  arm  ;  our  fouls  are  deeply  fenfible  of  the  firetching  forth 
of  thy  Almighty  Hand  in  our  prefervatio?t  at  this  day  ;  fa 
Living  Father  I  if  it  be  thy  heavenly  pleafure,  lengthen  forth 
our  tranquillity  J  and  the  enjoyments  of  thy  ?nercy  and  good- 
nefs  to  the  inhabitants  thereof,  that  they  may  learn  to  fear 
thee,  and  turn  to  thee  ivith  their  whole  hearts^  and  break 
off,  by  true  repentance,  from  all  thofe  fins  ihat  grieve  thy 
Holy  Spirit  ;  that  foy  Living  Father  of  Life  1  they  may 
come  to  walk  in  love  and  in  union  with  thy  heavenly  poiv-* 
er,  and  have  concord  one  voith  another^  an0flew  forth  the 
povjer  of  thy  grace  manifefled  to  them,  and  magnify  thy  love 
and  povjery  and  give  thee  honour  and  renown  for  that  great 
falvation  that  thou  haft  wrought  for  them  ;  that  fo  thy  great 
name  may  be  exalted,  and  thy  will  may  be  done  on  earth  as 
it  is  in  Heaven  ;    that  the  fouls  of  thy  peoph  may   be  re-r 

frefled 


2o8  The  Mighty  Work  of 

freJJied  with  thy  love,  a7id  the  joys  of  thy  -pre fence,  and  the 
revelation  of  thy  heavenly  power;  for  this,  we  offer  up  to 
thee  living  praifes,  and  Chriflian  thankfgivings,  in  and 
through  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrijt  ;  for  thou  art  vcorthy  of  all 
praife,  and  glory,  and  dominion,  forever^  and  ever.     Amen. 

SERMON      XIX. 

The    Mighty    Work    of  Man's 
Redemption. 

Preached  at  Grace-Church-Street,  Feb.  8,  iGSy. 

^4iy  friends,  , 

J'E  are  met  upon  the  mod  weighty  affair  that  can 
be  to  every  one  .of  us,  even  to  wait  that  we 
may  have  a  true  knowledge  of  the  beginning, 
carrying  on  and  perfecting  the  mighty  work  of  redemption, 
that  people  may  know  that  redemption  is  wrought  in  their 
fouls  ;  for  every  ones  foul  hath  been  loft  and  captivated, 
and  led  away  from  the  pure  prefence  of  God  ;  all  have 
been  alienated  by  reafon  of  fm,  which  hath  been  an  uni- 
verfal  wall  of  partition  and  hath  excluded  and  fhut  out  un- 
holy fouls  from  the  Holy  God  ;  all  that  have  been  defiled 
and  polluted,  they  have  been  excluded  from  his  dwelling- 
place,  they  have  been  driven  out  into  the  world,  and  the 
world  hath  become  a  world  of  mifery,  and  of  diflradiioa 
and  confufion  to  the  fons  and  daughters  of  men  j  there 
hath  been  angnifh,  tribulation  and  wrath  upon  all  their 
fouls,  and  an  infenfibility  hath  happened  unto  many,  that 
they  have  not  been  apprehenfive  of  the  great  depravation 
they  have  lain  under,  and  they  have  not  been  fenfible  of 
the  glory  of  that  ftate  and  condition  which  they  were  to 
have  enjoyed  j  and  in  that  ftate  of  infenfibility  they  have  not 
ibught  after  the  Lord,  but  have  been  captivated  and  led 
avoay  by  divers  lufls  and  pleafureSy  by  v/hich  they  have 
wounded  their  own  fouls  more  and  more. 

And 


Man*s  Redemption,  zog 

And  in  fuch  a  frate  as  this  it  is,  that  the  Lord  hath  found 
us ;  he  hath  fought  us  out,  and  he  hath  found  us  cnft  out 
into  the  open  fieldy  and  lualloiving,  as  it  ivere,  in  our  own 
blood ;  and  yet  this  hath  been  a  tijne  of  lozje  ;  and  he  hath 
manifefted  his  love  to  us  in  this  refpecl,  in  that  he  hath 
awakened  us  and  brought  us  to  a  fenfe  of  our  depraved 
and  deplorable  condition,  and  given  unto  a  remnant  to 
perceive,  that  there  is  a  .tnore  excellent  glory ^  a  mor-^  ex- 
cellent enjoyment  to  be  had,  than  any  this  world  can  afford. 
But  a  great  many  of  thofe  whofe  eyes  are  fo  far  opened, 
that  they  can  fee  and  difcern  a  more  excellent  glory,  yet 
they  cannot  receive  it,  for  they  are  not  in  a  capacity  for 
the  enjoyment  of  it  j  many  have  the  glimmerings,  and 
fome  little  fight  of  heavenly  things,  but  they  them 'elves 
are  earthly  :  Many  perceive  there  is  a  holy  life,  but  it 
is  not  theirs,  for  their  own  life  is  unholy,  and  yet  they 
know  there  is  a  life  that  is  holy  and  pure.  Hereupon 
defires  are  begotten,  by  the  word  of  life  in  the  fons  and 
daughters  of  men,  through  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  the 
Mediator ;  by  him  defires  are  begotten  in  people  that  they 
might  come  to  enjoy  that  hfe  of  holinefs,  that  they 
might  not  only  fee  a  better  ftate  than  what  they  do  en- 
joy, but  that  they  might  come  to  enjoy  it,  and  have  '\x 
for  theirs. 

There  is  a  univerfal  defire  in  people  that  they  mJght 
have  eternal  life,  and  they  believe  there  is  an  eternal 
life  to  be  enjoyed  j  but  every  one  hath  it  not,  and  the 
reafon  is,  becaufe  they  are  not  fitted  and  prepared  for 
the  enjoyment  of  it  j  for  it  is  a  kind  of  treafure  that 
is  never  put  into  an  unclean  veilel  ,  there  muft  be  a 
cleanfing  and  purifying,  that  fo  earthen  vefl'els  may  come 
to  retain  and  hold  this  heavenly  treafure  j  and  when  it 
comes  to  this,  that  people  muft  be  cleanfed  and  puri- 
fied, here  the  world  turns  out  to  divers  means  and  me- 
thods ;  fome  have  gone  to  outward  wafhings,  outward 
cleanfings  and  obfervations  of,  this  and  the  other  ordi- 
nance, and  when  all  that  hath  been  done,  themfelves 
being  judges,  they  were  yet  unclean ;  when  thev  have 
done  all  that  lies  in  their  power  and  ability,  towards  their 
waihing  and  cicanfmg,  and  towards   preparing  themfelves, 

D  d  they 


;iio  The  Mighty  Work  of 

they  have  found  fome  fecret  tcftimony  in  their  pwn 
con'ciences  that  their  hearts  were  flili  unclean,  and  that 
there  was  defilement  ftill  abiding  and  lodging  in  the  fecret 
of  their  fouls ',  and  this  hath  put  a  great  many  to  a  fland, 
what  thev  ftiould  do  j  when  they  have  come  to  the  end 
of  all,  they  know  not  what  to  do:  Many  have  cried 
fecretly,  what  lliall  we  do  to  be  faved  ?  For  ail  that  we 
can  do,  cannot  fave  us.  "N^^^e  have  retained  this,  and  the 
other  dodrine,  followed  thisand  the  other  way,  and  made  many 
obfervations;  but  all  this  doth  not  cleanfe  our  foul,  nor/;f/r^'^ 
cur  confc'iences  from  dead  ivcrks,  this  will  not  bring  us  to  the 
inheritance  of  that  immortal  life  that  will  give  us  fatisfaclion- 
^c  hear  many  fpeak  of  fatisfadion,  and  of  joy  urifpe^:kabU 
and  fii  I  of  g! cry  ;  but  here  is  a  weight  and  burthen  ftill  lies 
upon    our  (ouls. 

Therefore,  my  friends,  that  all  fuch  who  are  brought 
fo  far,  as  to  be  under  fuch  a  burthen  and  opprefTion,  might 
be  informed  and  come  to  underftand,  where  the  true  reft 
is,  and  where  that  power  can  be  found,  that  is  able  to 
anfwer  thofe  tender  defires  that  are  begotten  in  them ;  for 
this  caufe  hath  the  Lord  our  God  communicated  and  given 
the  difpenfation  of  the  gofpel  of  his  fon,  unto  a  remnant 
whom  he  hath  fanclified,  that  they  might  fpeak  a  word  in 
fcafon  to  the  vceary  foul.  This  is  not  a  day  to  make  a  mock 
of  fill,  this  is  not  a  day  to  make  a  covefiant  ulth  death  and 
hell,  and  to  re^Dlve  to  go  on  in  a  wicked  life,  and  to  continue 
in  it  all  their  days. 

But  yet  there  are  a  fort  of  people  that  deiire  to  have  a 
word  fpcke  in  feafon  to  them  when  they  are  weary.  How 
many  are  there  in  our  age  and  generation,  that  one  may 
reckon  of  this  number,  that  are  iinners,  and  overcome  by 
their  lulls  and  corruptions,  and  by  the  temptation  o£  fatan 
and  his  inftruments.  But  they  are  weary  of  it,  it  is  a  burthen 
to  their  fouls,  it  cofts  them  many  a  bitter  tear,  many  a  figh, 
and  many  a  fad  and  forrowful  thought  in  fecret,  that  they 
fhould  have  a  fight  of  a  m.ore  excellent  glory,  and  of  a  better 
life  than  that  of  their  own,  and  yet  know  not  how  to  get 
into  it. 

My  friends,  that  fame  divine  word  of  life,  by  which  any 
of  the  people  of  the  Lord,  in  any  age,  were  ever  reftored^ 

redeemed 


Man's  Redemption,  iit 

redeemed  and  purchafed  again  to  the  Lord  ;  that  v^ord  of 
life  muft  have  been  at  work  in  their  hearts,  and  hath  been  at 
work  in  them,  or  elfe  thou  hadft  never  been  lo  far  opened  j 
there  hath  been  fomething  that  hath  unftopped  thine  ears, 
that  thou  mighteft  hear  ;  and  the  reafon  of  thy  continuance 
in  thv  bo  1  is,  after  thy  knowing  fomething  that  might  have 
freed  thee,  is,  becaufe  thou  haft  not  heartily  doled  with  that 
which  hath  begun  the  work,  which  God,  by  his  redeeming 
power,  hath  effeded  in  the  hearts  of  them  that  beHeve 
in  Chrift,  and  thereby  an  inclination  is  raifed  in  people 
to  feek  after  the  Lord* 

You  know  what  the  apoftle  faith,  it  is  not  of  us  fo  muck 
as  to  think  a  gwd  thought.  But  this  all  people  will  grant 
is  a  good  thought,  when  a  fmner  thinks  of  turning  to  God, 
and  leaving  his  evil  VvWs,  if  he  had  power  and  abiUty,  and 
cries  out,  if  I  knew  how  to  ftand  againft  temptation,  I  would 
never  fm  againft  the  Lord  more  ;  this  muft  be  a  good  thought 
in  thy  mind  :  How  came  it  there  ?  W^ho  is  the  author  of 
this  thought,  you  v/ill  fay  ?  This  ought  to  be  attributed 
to  the  love  of  God  in  Chrift,  that  he  hath  convinced  and 
perfuaded  us  ;  and  that  though  there  is  fin  and  pollution, 
yet  he  hath  not  fo  forfaken  us,  as  utterly  to  caft  us  off,  he 
hath  fent  forth  his  quickening  Spirit,  that  is,  the  Lord  from 
Heaven,  that  he  might  ftir  up  and  quicken  people  to  confider 
their  condition,  and  bring  them  to  a  fenfe  of  their  prefent 
ftate,  that  they  may  come  into  a  better  ftate  than  they  are  in 
at  prefent. 

If  this  may  be  granted,  that  the  Spirit  of  God,  and  the  grace 
of  God,  is  the  author  of  thefedefires,  then  it  will  be  granted 
at  the  fame  time,  that  every  one  of  you  ought  to  be  fenfible, 
that  fuch  fpiritual  deftres  ftirring  you,  are  from  the  motion 
and  operation  of  the  Spirit  of  God  that  hath  raifed  them 
in  your  fouls ;  and  then  I  hope  you  will  grant,  that  if  you 
had  but  joined  with  that  Spirit,  and  with  the  alTiftance  of 
that  Spirit,    all  things  would  have  been  poflible  thereunto. 

So  that  here  is  the  firft  thing  that  I  would  have  every  one 
fatisfied  about  in  their  underftandings,  v/hether  they  are  to- 
tally exempted  from  any  fuch  touches  and  operations  of  God 
or  no  ;  for  it  is  faid  by  fome  ignorantly,  that  a  great  part  of 
mankind  have  never  had  any  fuch  divine  workings  of  the  Spi- 
rit 


2'j2     '  The  Mighty  Work  of 

;<5it  of  God  upon  them,  in  order  to  their  converfion  ;  there- 
•fore  it  is  not  in  vain  for  you  to  confider  your  flate  and  con- 
dition ;  for  if  you,  or  I,  or  any  here,  be  under  fuch  circum- 
fiances,  that  they  never  had,  nor  are  ever  like  to  have  any  fuch 
divine  operations  or  touches  of  the  fpirit  of  iife,  in  order  to 
converiion,  then  I  am  fure  you  and  I  had  better  never  have 
been  boiTi. 

■  If  you  ^x■ill  connder  with  yourfelves,  and  lay  afide  the 
difputes  of  doctors  and  learned  men,  you  may  know  the 
things  pertaining  to  yourfelves.  Things  relating  to  others, 
I  may  let  difputes  alone  about  them  ;  but  as  for  things 
relating  to  my  falvation,  I  mAift  have  a  certain  knowledge 
of  them.  It  concerns  you,  my  friends,  to  know  within 
yourfelves,  bv  an  infallible  evidence  of  the  Spirit  of  God, 
whether  you  have  had  fuch  divine  touches,  workings  and 
operations  upon  your  hearts,  as  have  inclined  you  to  feek 
the  Lord.  I  hope  I  may  believe  there  are  none  here  but 
have  in  their  hearts  an  anfwer  ;  I  have  had  fuch  touches 
and  operations  in  me  :  This  is  great  love  from  God  ',  more 
than  any  tongue  can  fet  forth.  You  will  be  ready  to  fay, 
I  have  not  deferved  this  ;  I  have  not  fo  behaved  myfelf 
towards  my  Maker  as  to  deferve  that  he  fhould  wait  up- 
on mc;,  and  call  upon  me.  When  wilt  thou  turn,  and 
amend  thy  life,  and  hearken  to  him  that  'made  thee  ?  When 
ivilt  then  lea'-je  ferving  God's  enemy,  and  fcrve  him  that  is 
thy  rightful  Lord  ? 

So  thaj:  now  this  is  a  great  aggravation  of  our  fin  to 
continue  in  it,  and  yet  to  have  a  belief  that  God  is  flill 
waiting  upon  us,  and  that  he  hath  fuch  a  kindnefs  for  us, 
as  now  and  then  to  touch  our  hearts  by  the  inward  ope- 
ration of  his    fpirit  and   grace,  in   order  to   converfion. 

Now  when  this  is  agreed,  and  men  fettle  themfelves  in 
the  belief  of  this,  you  know  what  the  confeqnence  will 
be.  "Vv'hen  I  connder  with  miyfelf,  I  that  have  been  un- 
der thefe  workings,  have  been  rebellious,  wicked  and  dif- 
obedient  to  God,  yet  the  Lord  is  not  fo  angry  as  utterly 
to  caf]  me  oiT,  but  is  flill  waiting  to  be  gracious,  by  the 
operation  of  his  fpirit,  to  gather  me  to  himfelf,  in  order 
to  fandify  me,  and..heal  my  backniding,  to  cure  my  weak- 

nefs 


Man's  Redemption.  21^ 

nefs  and  infirmities,  and  at  the  laft  to  fave  me,  and  make 
me  an  heir  of  his  eternal  kingdom,  what  is  the  conie- 
quence  of  this  love  ?  Why,  the  next  refolve  muft  be  this; 
I  will  either  rebel  againft  his  grace,  and  refift  his  pow- 
er, or  I  will  fubmit  to  him  ',  which  of  thefe  is  the  beft 
way,  the  fafeft  Vv^ay  I 

Are  there  not  a  great  many  in  this  age,  that  are  as 
fenfible  of  the  workings  of  God's  grace  for  their  conver- 
fion,  as  ever  you  and  I  were  ;  that  are  as  fenfible  that 
God  hath  called  them  to  hohnefs  and  righteoufnefs,  as 
any  of  us  can  be,  and  yet  they  have  refifted  the  grace  of 
God  ?  They  have  faid  "in  their  hearts,  we  wmU  not  fub- 
mit to  this  power,  that  will  make  us  fo  holy,  and  fo 
watchful,  and  fo  careful,  diligent  and  obedient,  for  this 
very  reafon,  becaufe  it  will  crofs  my  intereft,  it  will  crofs 
my  pleafure,  it  will  hinder  my  preterment  in  the  world, 
and  my  reputation  among  men  ;  and  for  this  reafon  I  will 
not  bear  this  yoke.  I  would  be  glad  to  hope  there  are 
none  fuch  here,  th-:;t  have  made  fuch  a  covenant  ivith  death 
and  helly  and  yielded  themfelves  up  to  the  devil,  to  ferve 
him  all  their  days. 

Let  us,  who  are  at  this  time,  and  at  this  meeting,  under 
the  operation  'of  God's  grace,  and  feel  the  Lord  caUing 
us-  by  his  grace,  and  working  upon  us  '^y  his  fpirit;  let  us 
enter  together  into  a  holy,  folemn  refolution,  that  we  will 
obey  this  good  Spirit,  and  take  him  for  our  leader,  and  fub- 
mit, though  it  lliould  be  to  a  crofs :  Thus  people  v/ill  think, 
they  will  come  to  this  refolution,  when  the  work  of  redemp- 
tion is  begun  in  their  fouls,  and  when  they  are  convinced  of 
their  fm,  and  their  eyes  are  opened  to  fee  the  way  of  holinefs ; 
and  though  they  never  take  a  refolution  to  walk  in  it,  yet 
every  one  fhall  be  convinced,  and  fee  there  v/as  a  better 
way'than  their  own,  and  be  convinced  by  the  grace  of  God 
one  time  or  other,  that  in  refped  of  God's  working  of  it, 
it  is  beginning  ;  but  in  refped  of  men  that  fhould  join  with 
the  operation  of  God,  it  is  not  beginning,  for  he  hath  no  defire 
to  thofe  things  which  he  doth  not  know,  he  flill  depends 
upon  himfelf ;  but  when  the  foul  comes  to  be  fatisfied,  that 
it  is  the  viiitatlon  of  God,  and  joins  himfelf  to  him  in  a  holy 
reiignation  of  his  own  will,  and  f^th,  this  is  the  Lord,   he 

is 


214  T^^  Mighty  W^ork  of 

is  come  to  work  upon  me,  he  is  come  to  change  and  altet 
the  frame  of  my  mind:  It  is  the  Lord,  let  him  do  what 
he  will;  here  is  a  mind  brought  to  fubmit  to  the  grace  of 
God,  God  is  able  to  do  that  for  him  which  he  cannot  da 
for  himfelf. 

^^hen  people  come  to  the  right  objed  of  their  faith,  and 
act  their  faith  upon  that  objed:,  they  every  day  find  a  pro- 
grefs,  a  going  forward  in  the  work  of  grace,  according  to  the 
work  of  grace  in  their  fouls ;  and  there  is  a  power  that  in- 
clines them  to  believe  ;  it  is  not  for  fuch  to  cry,  if  they  had 
power,  they  would  do  more  ',  he  that  hath  the  fpirit  of 
grace,  the  Spirit  of  Chrifl,  that  had  all  poiver  in  Heaven  and 
Earth  given  to  him,  to  put  it  forth  on  purpofe  for  the  bring- 
ing back  of  men  and  women  home  to  God  ;  he  that  hath 
this  objed:  of  faith  before  him,  he  will  not  look  for  power 
in  his  own  will  and  affcdions  to  redeem  him,  he  expeds  a 
power  to  be  daily  miniftered  and  difpenfed  to  him,  as  he 
hath  need  of  it,  through  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrifr,  who  is  pre- 
fent  with  him,  in  all  his  trials  and  temptations :  He  cries, 
here  is  a  temptation  that  will  carry  me  away,  O  Lord  help 
me,  j)Ut  forth  the  arm  of  thy  power  and  fave  me,  plant  thy 
fear  in  my  heart  and  deliver  me,  their  eyes  JJiall  fee  their 
Saviour,  laith  the   prophet. 

Thus  when  a  man  comes  to  be  joined  to  the  tight  ob- 
jed  of  faith,  and  doth  exercife  and  put  forth  lively  ads 
of  faith  upon  Chrift,  his  eyes  (hall  fee  his  Saviour ;  the 
light  that  Ihines  into  his  heart,  difcovers  to  him  the  temp- 
tation, and  it  alfo  fhews  him  a  Reedemer  at  hand;  his 
Saviour  is  nigh  him,  and  he  trufteth  in  him,  and  relies 
upon  him,  and  fays,  this  word  of  God  is  in  my  heart,  and. 
I  do  really  believe,  that  although  the  temptation  that  af- 
faults  me  be  ftrong,  yet  it  ihall  not  prevail  ;  whether  it  be 
the  profits,  the  pieafures,  or  the  honours  of  the  world* 
If  I  put  my  truft  in  this  power,  I  cannot  go  near  the  evil  ; 
I  am  a  Chriftian  ;  I  have  entered  into  a  covenant  in  Chrif- 
tianity,  that  I  will  join  with  nothing  but  what  God  ap- 
proves of:  Now  when  I  have  reprefented  to  my  mind 
the  temptation  of  the  devil,  and  that  evil  which  he  fets 
before  me,  and  I  know  it  is  contrary  to  the  mind  of  God, 
how  can  I  go   into  that  evil^  and  break  my  covenant  with 

God, 


Man's  Redemption.  irs 

Go(^y  after  I  have  entered  into  covenant  with  him,  to  love 
him,  Terve  him,  and  obey  him?  The  power  of  grace  up- 
on fuch  fouls,  the  operation  of  grace,  is  fo  powerful,  that 
the  temptation  comes  and  goes,  and  they  are  faved  and 
deUvered  out  of  it,  becaufe  God  helpeth  them  ;  but  if 
they  comply  with  the  temptation,  then  tribulation,  ivratk 
and  ang'iijh,  pursues  all  fuch  as  are  rebellious  and  difo- 
bedient  to  the  will  of  God. 

Now  this  redemption  is  carried  on  gradually  from  day 
to  day  ;  the  truth  that  thou  believeft,  it  operates  by  de- 
grees ;  thou  art  delivered,  firft  from  one  evil  pradice,  and 
then  from  another  evil  work  :  But  there  is  a  great  deal 
more  j  thou  rejoiceft  and  art  glad,  that  thou  art  deli- 
vered from  one  fm  ;  but  thou  wouldeft  be  more  glad  to 
be  delivered  from  them  all.  I  fpeak  to  thofe  that  arc 
ferious  for  their  immortal  fouls  ;  when  they  fee  them- 
felves  delivered  out  of  one  evil,  that  they  were  ready  to 
run  into,  they  would  be  glad  if  they  were  redeemed  out 
of  every  evil  ;  that  their  croifne's  and  peevifhnefs,  their 
frowardne^s  and  wantonnefs  were  removed  :  They  ihould 
be  glad  to  be  delivered   from  all  their  fms. 

What  do  you  think,  fay  fome,  that  a  man,  while  he 
liveth  here,  may  come  to  fee  all  fin,  all  evil  and  cor- 
ruption brought  under,  and  nothing  but  holinefs,  righte- 
ou^nefs  and  truth  remain  in  him  ;  and  that  there  fhall  be 
nothing  but  fimplicity  and  innocence  I  Do  you  think  that 
fuch   a  thing   can  be  ? 

Why  fhould  not  I  think  fo  ?  You  will  grant  me,  that 
the  power  of  grace  is  able  to  get  fuch  power  and  vidory 
over  fin  and  corruption,  that  you  may  come  to  hate  it 
as  much  as  ever  you  have  loved  it  ;  if  you  grant  mc  that, 
the  confequence  will  follow,  he  that  gave  me  viclory  over 
fm,  can  give  me  power  over  all  fin.  All  Chriftians  be^ 
lieve,  that  God's  power  is  infinite  ;  the  fcripture  teftifies, 
all  things  to  be  fofjible  to  God,  with  ivhom  we  have  to  do* 
If  all  things  be  poffible  to  God,  fure  this  is  pofiible  ; 
there  is  nothing  fo  contrary  to  God  as  fin  ;  and  God  will 
not  fuffer  the  devil  always  to  rule  his  mafier-piece,  man. 
Mankind  is  God's  mafter-piece,  the  mod  eminent  creature 
in  this  lower  world,  made  after  God's  likenefs;  and  though 

the 


^i^'  The  Mighty  Work  of 

the  devil  hath  brought  men  into  his  own  likenefs  now,  yet 
nothing  can  be  more  contrary  to  the  mind  of  God,  than 
that  the  devil  Ihould  have  the  rule  of  us,  for  God  would 
have  the  government  of  us  himfelf. 

When  we  confider  the  infinitenefs  of  God's  power,  for 
deftroving  that  v/hich  is  contrary  to  him,  who  can  believe . 
that  the  devil  muft  ever  (land  and  prevail  ?  I  belive  it  is  in- 
confiftent  and  difagreeable  with  the  true  faith,  for  people  to 
be  Chriftians,  and  yet  to  believe  that  Chrift,  the  eternal  Son 
cf  God,  to  whom  all  power  in  Heaven  and  Earth  is  given, 
will  fuffer  fm  and  the  devil  to  have  dominion  over  them  j 
there  is  no  other  name  under  Heaven  by  iv/iich  I  can  be  favedy 
therefore  I  have  put  my  confidence  in  him  :  If  the  devil  muft 
have  the  rule  of  me  here,  then  I  cannot  be  fubjed  to  Chrift 
in  all  things ;  I  may  go  to  micetings,  but  can  never  miafter 
the  devil  and  his  temptations  ;  this  is  as  inconfiftent  with 
the  faitli  of  a  Chriftian,  as  light  with  darknefs,  and  Chrift 
with  Belial.  If  Chriftians  thmk  themfelves  true  believers, 
then  let  them  fee  how  far  their  faith  will  reach,  whether  it 
be  like  that  faith,  vohich  was  once  delivered  to  the  fai?2ts,  for 
by  that  faith  their  hearts  were  cleanfed,  and  they  became  free 
from  fm,  Rom,  vi.  22.  But  novo  being  made  free  from  ftn^ 
and  the  fervants  of  God,  faith  the  apoftle,  you  have  your 
fruit  unto  holinefs,  and  the  end  everlafing  life  ;  you  were 
fervants  to  fm,  but  now  you  are  free  from  fin  ;  fo  that  this 
faith  is  but  one,  and  if  men  have  got  another,  it  will  do 
them  no  good :  Take  heed  thou  art  not  miftaken  about  thy 
faith. 

I  have  heard  fome  learned  men  fay,  that  a  believer  is 
a  fervant  of  fm,  and  he  is  ever  Hke  to  be  fo  ;  but  he  is  not 
at  the  fame  time  free  from  righteoufnefs,  for  he  hath  the  righ- 
teoufnefs  of  Chrift  imputed  to  him,  and  God  looks  upon 
him  as  righteous  in  his  righteoufnefs ;  there  cannot  be  a  more 
anti-apoftolical  dod:rine,  I  may  be  a  fervant  of  fin,  and  yet 
have  the  imputation  of  Chrift 's  righteoufnefs  ;  I  may  be  a 
fervant  of  fm,  fay  they,  yet  Chrift  is  righteous,  he  is  the, 
righteoufnefs  of  .God,  ^nd  he  hath  fidfi lied  the  will  of  God, 
and  hath  purchafed  falvation  for  me,  and  he  is  the  objed  by 
which  I  am  made  righteous. 

Confider  this,  the  im.putvition   of  Chrift's  righteoufnefs 

will 

M. 


Mj^'s  Redemption-*  ziy 

will  never  do  me  good,  till  I  come  to  partake  of  his  righte- 
oufnefs,  till  his  righteoulnefs  be  made  my  righteoufnefs,  in 
me  and  for  me.  Chriil:  is  made  to  us  of  God,  wifdom^ 
righteoufnefs y  fanBification  and  redemption  ;  fo  that  if  a  Tin- 
ner, one  that  was  a  fmner  the  other  day,  come,  through  faith 
in  Chrift,  to  have  his  heart  cleanfed  and  purged,  and  true  righ- 
teoufnefs planted  in  him,  where  fin  was  planted,  there 
fin,  through  the  blood  of  Chrift,  is  cleanfed  and  purged 
away. 

So  that  Chrift  is  made  righteoufnefs  to  me,  and  not  his 
righteoufnefs  barely  imputed  and  reckoned  to  me  j  Chrijt 
is  my  ivifdom,  I  am  a  fool  without  him  ;  Chrift  is  made 
righteoufnefs  to  me  ;  for  my  good  deeds  and  holy  living 
cannot  be  acceptable  to  God  till  they  be  done  in  him, 
and  commended  to  God  by  him  ;  the  proper  work  of  faith 
is,  to  fix  the  foul  on  him  that  luorketh  all  things  in  us  and  for 
uSy  that  worketh  in  us  both  to  will  and  to  doy  according 
to  his  good  pleafure  ;  and  it  is  the  good  pieafure  of  God 
that  we  ihould  live  in  all   ri.^hteoufnefs. 

o 

They  that  come  to  receive  this  faith  at  firft,  have  to 
receive  it  from  an  inward  feelings  they  have  the  ope- 
ration of  the  word  of  God  in  them  ;  fo  the  apoftle  reck- 
ons faith,  not  becaufe  fuch  a  man  heareth,  and  fuch  a 
man  believeth  what  fuch  a  man  preacheth,  but  fait/i  is 
the  operation  of  God  ;  you  may  hear  me,  and  a  thoufand 
preach,  and  you  may  die  unbelievers  for  all  that,  except 
you  come  to  this,  to  know  the  operation  of  God,  and 
the  work  of  faith  in  you.  How  doth  my  heart  clofe  with 
this?  How  doth  my  foul  join  with  this?  What  virtue  and 
power  do  I  feel  in  myfelf?  it  may  be  others  that  preach,  feel 
the  power,  but  do  I  feel  it  ?  if  not,  I  come  but  to  a  noife 
and  found  :  If  people  feel  not  their  hearts  joining  with  the 
word  preached,  there  comes  no  advantage  to  them ;  you 
read  in  fcripture,  that  the  word  preached  did  not  profit^  be- 
caufe it  voas  not  mixed  with  faith  in  them  that  heard  it :  This 
is  your  cafe,  you  come  to  meeting,  and  you  love  to  hear  the 
doctrine  of  truth  preached ;  I  tell  you,  and  I  will  fpeak 
plainly  to  you,  unlefs  you  come  to  feel  the  operation  of 
the  word  of  truth  in  your  hearts,  you  may  hear  the  gofpel, 
and  the  word  of  life  preached  to  you,  but  it  will  not  profit 
you  much,  E  e  How 


:^iS  The  MiGurr  Work  of 

How  is  it  pofilble  for  a  man  to  have  a  teftimony  againft 
drunkcnnefs,    and    yet    be   drunk  ?    a  tedimony  againil:  un- 
cleannefs,  and  yet  be  unclean  ?    How  can  a  man  hear  fuch 
a  teftimony  and  believe  it,  and  yet  commit  the  fm  ?   He  heard 
it,  but  did  not  feel  the  virtue  of  it  within  himfelf,   and  fo 
he  did  not  mortify  the  fin  that  he  was  inclinable  toj   but 
thev  that  come  to  join  with  truth,   and  with  meekiiefs  receive 
the  ingrafted  word^  they  iind  the   power  and  ability  of  it, 
they   find   how   able    it  is  to    fave    their   fouls,    they   find 
how  it  worketh,  not  only  juft  when  they  hear  it,  but  it 
goes   along  with    them,   and  dwells    with    them,    and   they 
find   the  virtue  of  it  overfhadowing  their  fouls,   with   the 
dread   and  terror  of  the  Lord,    not  with  the  words  that  a 
man  fpeaks ;  I  do  not  trufl:  to  them,   but  here  is  the  power 
and  the  fear   of  the  Lord,    which  will   preferve   my  foul, 
and  keep  me  in   fafety  j   this   is  that  which  will  keep  my 
mind  fixed  upon    him,    and   keep   my   mind    inward,    that 
I  do  not  gaze  about  me;  io  that  every  one  may  have  art 
infalUble   teftimony    of  what  they  have   heard   and   known* 

I  have  known  the  dodrine  of  feveral  feds  that  have  been 
am.ong  us,  and  the  main  thing  that  many  have  gone  from 
one  people  to  another  about,  is  this,  that  they  might  know 
V/hat  fuch  a  man  holds  forth  more  than  fuch  a  one,  and  they 
think  the  truth  is'  more  perfpicuous  among  fuch  a  people 
than  other  people  ;  if  you  examine  the  matter,  it  is  this,  who 
preached  and  proved  his  dodrine  bed.  Alas  !  if  they  did 
all  concur  together,  and  did  preach  as  certain  and  infallible 
dodrine  as  ever  Chrift  and  his  apolUes  preached,  this  will 
all  do  thee  and  m.e  no  good,  unlefs  we  know  the  power. 
You  know  there  were  thoufands  that  heard  Chrift  preach, 
as  you  now  hear  me,  and  there  were  fome  fo  taken  with  him, 
that  they  went  away,  and  faid,  never  man  f pake  like  this  man. 
But  were  they  all'  Chriftians  ?  Did  they  partake  of  life  by 
him  ?  No,  fome  of  them  were  ready  to  ftone  him. 

Now  bring  this  home  and  confider  with  vourfelves,  whe- 
ther you  are  not  fome  of  you  in  the  fame  ftate;  v/hen  you 
hear  truth  preached,  there  is  an  aflent  and  agreement  with  it 
in  your  minds  ;  but  when  a  command  comes  to  be  obeyed, 
and  a  crofs  to  be  taken  up,  and  feh^-denial  to  be  ihewn, 
or  fome  encreafe  of  trade  lies  in  the  way,  let  truth  go  where 

it 


Man's  "Redemption'.  '     ^rp 

k  will,  you  muft  follow  your  intereft ;  there  wants  fome- 
what  to  fix  yoa  in  the  principle  of  truth,  which  is  able  to 
fandify  you  and  perfed  you,  that  you  may  be  reconciled 
to  God  through  Chrift. 

They  that  are  refigned  and  given  up  to  truth,  it  is  pofiible 
for  them  that  they  may  be  fatisfied  ',  they  have  an  infallible 
teftimony  of  the  fpirtt  of  truth  witnefjliig^  vc'ith  their  fpintSy 
that  fuch  a  thing  is  bad,  and  if  they  might  get  the  whole 
world  to  do  it,  they  will  not.  'What  is  profit  and  pleafure 
to  me  ?  My  pleafure  is  at  God's  right  hand,  and  my  profit 
is  to  get  grace,  and  to  have  an  abundant  e?itrance  into  God's 
everlafting  kingdom.  Thofe  that  have  the  true  knowledge  of 
Chrift,  they  have  profit  and  advantage,  pleafure  and  delight 
enough,  which  is  hid  from  the  world,  and  ever  will  be. 
They  are  for  profit  and  pleafure,  which  they  may  have  with 
a  good  confcience.  Thofe  things  which  God  affords  them 
as  bleifings  in  this  world,  they  defpife  them  not,  but  take 
them  with  thankfgiving,  and  ufe  them  for  his  glory  :  But  if 
they  cannot  have  profit  or  pleafure  without  finning  againft 
the  Lord  and  their  own  confciences,  let  thofe  who  will,  take 
profit  and   pleafure. 

They  that  come  thus  to  clofe  with  truth,  they  have  an 
infallible  evidence  within  them  ;  they  do  not  conceive  it 
is  thus  and  thus,  becaufe  fuch  a  man  faith  it  is  fo  j  but 
they  have  an  infallible  evidence  in  themfelves.  This  is 
the  mind  of  the  Lord  ;  God  hath  fignified  it  by  his  Spi- 
rit, and  fealed  it  upon  my  fpirit,  and  I  cannot  but 
know  it. 

What,  do  you  profefs  infallibility  ?  Yes,  elfe  I  would 
hold  my  tongue  ;  if  I  did  not  know  what  I  affert  infalli- 
bly, I  would  never  preach  more  ;  truth  may  be  many 
times  concealed.  A  man  may  have  wronged  and  cheated 
his  neighbour,  and  he  not  know  of  it  ;  this  man  goes 
away,  and  his  neighbour  doth  not  reproach  him  ;  but  v/hen 
he  comes  to  he  down  in  his  bed,  he  hath  a  fting  and  a 
reproach  in  his  confcience,  I  know  I  have  done  him  harm. 
Is  not  this  infallible  ?  Let  me  confult  fome  learned  men, 
that  I  may  know  v/hether  I  have  told  a  lie.  I  need  nor 
go  to  learned  men  and  logicians,  to  know  whether  it  was 
a  lie  i  I  am  infallible  in  this,  I  know  certainly  it  was  not 

a 


220  The  Mighty  Work  of,  &c. 

a  lie  ;  I  have  a  certain  evidence,  and  if  a  thoufand  men 
tell  me  to  the  contrary,  I  will  not  believe  them.  If  there 
be  infallibility  here,  is  there  not  then  infailibility  in  the 
word  of  truth  ?  Shall  I  queftibn  it,  or  doubt  it,  if  I 
have  an  infallible  teftimony  of  it  ? 

Tho'  men  have  ever  fo  little  proficiency,  if  they  have 
it  upon  fure  term.s,  and  lading  foundations,  let  a  thoufand 
men  come  uith  all  their  logical  skill  and  fophifm,  yet  they 
can  never  remove  a  man  from  the  witnefs  in  himfelf. 
The  remnant  that  God  hath  brought  to  this  foundation,- 
they  have  a  certainty  and  infallibility  in  their  obedience, 
that  they  pay  to  the  will  of  God,  and  in  the  comfort  they 
have  to  the  obedience  of  the  law  of  God,  ivhick  he  hath 
ivritteii  in  their  hearts.  Let  what  will  come,  they  can  ne- 
ver be  removed  \  for  this  exceeds  all  the  precepts  and 
dodrlnes  of  men  '■,  it  is  the  precept  and  doCtrme  of  Chrift 
and  his  apoftles.  Let  people  read  them,  and  endeavour 
to  praclife  them  :  But  here  comes  the  teftimony,  the  di- 
vine power  by  which  the  precept  was  given  forth  to  them, 
and  is  now  given  forth  again  to  thee  and  me,  with  the 
fame  livelinefs  and  power.  Let  us  perform  them  as  did 
the  primitive  Chriftians. 

Here  now,  comfort  comes  to  fiow  forth  from  a  fettled 
foundation  that  ihail  never  be  moved.  The  winds  have 
come  and  blown  upon  religion  ;  let  what  wind  will  blow, 
that  can  blow,  God  hath  built  his  church  upon  a  rock, 
and  it  will  remain  immoveable  againft  all  oppofition  j  blef- 
fed  arc  they  that  are  founded  thereupon.  Hath  God  fixed 
and  eftablillied  us  in  our  fociety  v/ith  one  another,  and 
w^ith  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrifi:  ?  this  is  the  foundation  that 
God  hath  placed  it  upon,  ^"^e  defire  that  all  men  mxay 
come  to  the  fame  ftability  and  fettlement,  and  never  more 
to  be  to^ed  with  the  ivinds  of  doclrine,  but  he  built  upon 
Chrij}  Jefus,  the  Rock  of  Ages,  the  rock  of  our  ages,  the 
rock  of  us  and  our  children.  That  God  will  carry  us  on 
in  this  fociety,  is  the  defire  of  our  fouls,  for  ourfelvcs, 
and  all  our  friends  and  countrymen.  The  way  for  you 
to  be  bleifed,  and  to  have  an  advantage  for  your  immor^ 
tal  fouls,  by  the  teftimony  that  hath  been  raifed  up,  is, 
to  have   regard  to   the  working   of  the  fame  power,    that 

you 


His  Prayer  after  Sermoi^*  221 

you  may  come  to  partake  of  the  benefit  of  thofe  gifts  and 
graces  which  God  hath  beftowed  upon  his  church. 

His  Prayer  after  Sermon. 

7i/f  0  S  T  hlejfed  and  glorious  God  and  Father  of  Life  t 
jL  vJL  how  ivonderful  art  thou  in  thy  appearaJices  to  thy  peo- 
ple in  the  day  of  thy  power  ^  in  which  thou  haft  fir  etched  forth 
thine  army  and  haft  gathered  a  remnant  of  thofe  that  were  feat- 
teredy  and  art  yet  gathering  and  bringing  to  thyfelfj  thofe 
that  have  been  driven  away;  and  tliou  haft  made  known 
thy  power  and  goodnefs  in  the  hearts  of  the  fons  and  daughters 
of  fnen,  that  they  might  love  thee.  That  thou  mighteft  beget 
love  to  thyfelf^  thou  haft  made  known  thy  love  to  their  hearts  ; 
if  thou  hadfl  not  loved  us  jirft^  we  had  never  loved  thee  :  But 
thou  haft  been  jhedding  abroad  thy  love  in  our  hearts  by  the 
Holy  Ghoft^  to  conftrain  us  to  love  thee.  Thy  love  is  7nani- 
fefted  to  all  that  are  breathing  after  thee,  and  none  do  breathe 
after  thee,  but  through  the  If e  that  thou  giveft  them  ;  and  thofe 
that  were  dead  in  fins  and  trefpaffes,  haft  thou  quickened, 
and  voe  would  fend  forth  thy  praifes  and  thankfgivings  for 
the  great  things  thou  haft  done  for  us  in  Jefus  Chrift.  All 
thy  works  praife  thee,  and  thy  faints  blefs  thee. 

Holy  Father  of  Life  I  encreafe  and  multiply  thofe  graces 
and  holy  defires  which  thou  haft  begun  to  work  in  uSy  and 
'pluck  up  every  plant  that  thy  right  hand  hath  not  planted.  Let 
fpiritual  Sodom  be  burnt  upy  and  all  that  are  corrupt ;  let 
thofe  things  that  thou  haft  planted  fpring  up  to  the  praife  of 
thy  name,  and  the  falvation  of  the  fouls  which  thou  haft  ga~ 
thered. 

O  powerful  God  of  Life  !  let  thy  bleffed  prefence  and  liv- 
ing fear  be  among  us,  that  all  thy  children  may  offer  praifes, 
andthefacrifices  of  humble  thankfgivings  up07i  thy  holy  altar, 

Arife,  O  Lord !  more  and  more  in  the  greatnefs  of  thy  pow- 
er, and  difpel  the  clouds  of  darknefs  that  hath  been  upon  the 
fons  and  da'iQ^hters  of  m.en,  and  raife  up  in  every  one  of  us 
more  and  more  holy  defires  and  breathings  after  that  life  that 
is  eternal.  Thofe  that  have  been  fcattered,  let  them  be  now 
gathered^  and  let  thofe  that  have  been  driveu  away  in  a  cloudy 

and 


222       .  The  Word  of  God^ 

and  dark  nighty  he  brought  to  a  glorious  and  hiejfed  day^ 
voherein .  they  may  enjoy  the  gofpel  that  brings  light  to  dark 
fouls ^  that  praifes  and  thankfgivings  may  be  offered  up  in  thy 
houfe  for  thy  holy  prefence  voith  us^  that  we  may  be  fed  there^ 
when  we  are  affembled  together  in  thy  name^  according  to  thy 
fromife.  Continue  to  be  t7i  the  midji  of  us^  that  living  praifes 
and  thankfg:vings  may  be  offered  up  to  thee,  through  Jefus 
Chrlj} ;  for  thou  alone  art  worthy^  zvho  art  God  over  all^ 
blejfed  for  evermore.     Amen. 

S  E  Pv  M  O  N     XX. 
The  Word  of  God,  a  Christian's  Life. 

Preached  at  Grace-Church-Street,  March  i^,  i6Sy, 

T  was  the  dod:rine  of  the  great  mafter  of  the  Chrif- 
tian  religion,  the  Lord  Jeius  Chrift,  while  he  was 
preaching  and  pubhihing,  and  making  known  the  wa)r 
of  falvation  among  the  Tons  and  daughters  of  men  ;  he  then 
preached  and  declared,  that  it  was  not  bread  only  by  whtck 
a  man  lived,  but  by  every  word  that  proceedeth  out  of  the  mouth 
of  God.  Now  the  way  and  means  of  man's  prefervation  in 
life,  in  a  living  ftate,  the  method  and  courfe  that  the  God  of 
Heaven  doth  open  to  keep  the  fons  and  daughters  of  men 
alive,  is  by  this  word  :  Every  word  that  proceedeth  out  of 
the  mouth  of  God,  hath  a  miniftration  of  life  in  it  ;  and, 
therefore,  all  that  are  defirous  of  the  enjoyment  of  the 
immortal  life,  and  of  the  preferving  and  encreafing  of  it, 
they  are  diligently  to  wait  to  be  made  partakers  of  this 
divine  miniftration.  Outward  bread  is  for  outward  pre- 
fervation, but  man  is  made  inward  as  well  as  outv/ard,  he 
hath  a  foul  as  well  as  a  body.  Now  Chrifl,  to  fignify 
to  us,  what  the  inward  man  is  nouriflied  and  fed  by,  tells 
us,  that  man  liveth  not  by  bread  alone,  but  by  every  word 
that  proceedeth  out   of  the   mouth  of  God, 

So  nov/  in  this  our  day,  as  well  as  in  former  days,  it 
hath  pleafcd  God  to  give  unto  a  remnant  an  experimental 
knowledge    of   the  truth    of  this,     that    they    have    been 

quick-  ' 


a  Christian's  Life*  2^^ 

quickened  and  made  alive  by  the  word  of  God;  that  is, 
they  ha've  heard^  and  felt,  and  tafted  of  the  word  of  life 
that  was  with  the  Father  before  the  world  began,  that  hath 
been  divinely  miniftred  to  them,  by  the  mercy  of  God, 
through  Jefus  Chrift;  many  that  were  dead  in  trefpajfes 
and  fins,  he  hath  faid  unto  them,  live.  He  hath  given 
unto  many  an  inward  fenfe  of  their  ftate^,  who  fome- 
times  had  it  not;  he  hath  brought  many  a  one  to  feel 
fin  to  be  a  burthen  and  an  oppreffing  load,  who  fome- 
times  before  have  taken  plcafure  and  delight  in  it.  This 
is  a  great  change  that  is  wrought  in  a  man's  mind,  that  he 
ftiould  come  to  be  laden  with  that,  burthened  and  opprefTed 
by  that,  which  was  before  his  pleafure  and  delight;  vet 
this  great  change  hath  been  wrought  in  many  a  foul,  by  the 
operation  of  the  word  of  God,  of  that  inward  word,  that 
inward  voice,  when  the  Lord  hath  taken  men  in  hand 
himfelf. 

There  are  many  have  taken  finners  in  hand,  and  have  gone 
about  to  convince  them  and  convert  them,  but  they  were  not 
able  to  do  it ;  but  when  the  Lord  hath  taken  men  in  hand 
himfelf,  when  his  Creator  hath  undertaken  to  deal  with  him 
himfelf,  then  the  man  cries  out,  I  a-m  a  worm,  and  no  tnan  ; 
then  he  cries  out  under  the  fenfe  of  the  judgment  of  God, 
then  he  cries  out  under  the  indignation  of  the  Lord,  which 
he  hath  kindled  by  his  fms,  h^  cries  out  for  mercy,  then  he 
prays  for  remiffion,  then  he  wifhes  that  he  had  never  pro- 
voked the  Lord  ;  for  the  word  that  goes  out  of  the  mouth  of 
God,  hath  a  mighty  force  and  power  upon  the  fpirit  of  a 
man,  fo  that  he  is  cc>nverted  and  changed  by  it ;  as  the  pro- 
phet faid  of  old,  the  word  of  God  is  pure,  converting  the  foul'. 

Now  where  any  come  to  an  experimental  knowledge  of 
the  word  of  the  Lord,  of  this  inward  voice,  whereby ^God 
f peaks  to  the  fons  and  daughters  of  men,  they  have  received 
thereby  an  infallible  fee.ling  of  their  own  ftate  and  condition  ; 
this  is  the  firft  leffbn  learned  by  it.  They  come  to  have 
a  certain,  infalhble  kno^vC^ledge  of  their  own  ftate,  and  they 
are  fure  that  they  cannot  be  deceived  ;  for  it  brings  an  evi- 
dence with  it  in  their  confciences,  fo  that  what'oever  this 
Word  of  life  fignifieth  to  ci  man,  he  hath  the  knowledge  of  the 
fame  thing  evidencing  it  in.  his  ov/n  confcience,  as  the  apoG 

tie 


2  24  ^^^^  WoiiTf  of  GoDf 

tie  faith,  if  our  Jiearts  condemn  us,  God  is  greater  than  our  hearts  y 
and  knoiveth  all  things.  No^X'■  here  is  a  \C'ay  found  out  for 
men  to  obtain  divine  knowledge  by  a  divine  means ;  for  the 
Lord  fpeaks  by  his  Spirit,  and  if  men  come  to  hearken  to  that 
voice,  unto  tliat  fpeaking,  they  perceive  readily  what  it 
faith  unto  them  :  The  Lord  tells  people  as  well  now  as 
in  former  ages,  what  he  hath  againft  them  j  and  this  every 
one  in  the  clofet  of  their  own  hearts,  come  to  underftand. 
We  read  in  the  book  of  Revelations,  what  our  Lord  Jefus 
Chrift  appointed  John  to  write  to  the  feven  churches  in 
^fia,  that  he  had  few  things  againft  fome,  and  many  things 
againft  others. 

Now  that  which  is  the  defign  of  our  meeting  when  we 
are  alTembled  together,  is,  that  we  may  know  what  the  mind 
and  judgment  of  God  is,  concerning  ourfelves  :  How  ihall 
we  know  that,  unlefs  we  ask  him,  and  com.e  to  wait  upon 
him,  and  enquire  at  the  oracle  of  counfel,  that  God  hath 
appointed  in  the  bofom  of  every  man?  For  he  fignifies  his 
mind  unto  the  children  of  men,  by  that  light  and  grace 
which  Jefus  Chrift  hath  planted  in  them,  he  hath  enlightened 
every  man  that  comes  i?ito  the  world,  with  an  undeceiving 
light,  and  he  hath  miniflered  of  his  truth  and  grace  to  every 
man  ;  though  the  man  be  bad  and  untrue,  and  in  the  dark, 
and  there  be  darknefs  in  him,  yet  the  light  fhineth  in  darknefs. 
The  man  may  be  a  falfe  men,  yet  there  is  true  knowledge 
in  him  ;  if  this  man  hearken  to  the  voice  of  truth,  when  the 
God  of  truth  fignifies  what  his  mind  and  judgment  is  con- 
cerning him,  and  his  prefent  ftate. 

So  that  there  is  an  opportunity  offered,  and  if  a  man  be- 
lieve the  word  of  truth,  which  is  adminiftered  to  his  own 
mind,  he  cannot  fay  fuch  a  man  hath  deceived  him,  for  it 
is  truth  itlelf  which  is  fignified  to  him  which  he  beheveth  : 
For  the  truth  is  the  objed:  of  his  faith,  and  he  believeth  it 
of  himfelf  j  he  believeth  that  while  he  remains  wicked  in  his 
unrenewed  ftate,  he  is  out  of  the  covenant  of  God,  and  in 
the  high  road  to  deftrudion,  if  he  doth  not  get  out  of  it, 
and  return  to  God,  and  mind  his  duty :  He  believeth  this, 
and  he  believeth  the  truth  :  It  hath  been  fo  with  many,  it 
hath  been  fo  with  us  all  ;  this  is  the  firft  kind  of  faith  and 
belief  that  ever  we  receive  j  for  v/hen  trutli  fignifieth  to  us 

our 


a  Christian's  Life.  ^2^ 

our  fallen  ftate,  our  alienated  ftate,  when  truth  fignifies  and 
difcovers  to  us  the  partition  ^^11  of  lln  and  iniquity  which  we  • 
have  builded  up,  whereby  the  glory  and  favour  of  God  was 
hid  from  the  foul,  we  believed  this  to  be  true  ',  we  would 
have  been  looked  upon  as  heirs  of  God's  kingdom,  yet  when 
we  are  come  to  hearken  to  truth,  we  find  that  we  are  children 
of  the  devil  and  do  his  works ;  Ihall  a  man  believe  this  after 
he  hath  been  forty  years  a  profeflor  of  Chriftianity  ?  If  a 
man  believe  truth,  there  is  no  danger  in  believing  it,  tho' 
it  be  his  own  deftrudion  that  is  threatened. 

Now  the  great  thing  that  I  would  have  uihered  into 
the  hearts  of  men,  is,  that  they  may  believe  the  truth 
for  truth's  fake.  If  men  will  believe  the  truth,  they 
muft  believe  many  things  againfl  themfelves,  which  they 
are  not  willing  to  believe  ;  but  faith  Chrifl,  no  man 
can  be  my  fcholar,  my  difciplej  but  by  denying  Iiimfelf, 
I  muft  deny  myfelf,  my  pretenfions  to  Chfiftianity,  my 
fuppofed  faintfhip  and  title  to  the  kingdom  of  God  j  now 
if  I  would  be  convinced  that  I  am  a  wicked  man,  a  pro- 
phane  man,  one  that  doth  not  live  as  becomes  the  gofpel, 
I  muft  believe  truth,  the  voice  of  truth  being  of  infallible 
certainty;  it  is  fignified  divinely,  by  the  immortal  word 
that  cannot  deceive  us ;  this  ought  to  be  the  reafon  why 
people  fhould  beheve  the  teftimony  of  it,  tho'  it  be  againft 
themfelves ;  they  that  do  fo,  prefently  come  to  find  the 
effeds  of  it,  for  they  were  in  their  fins  and  trefpaffes  before, 
and  fo  are  ftill;  they  were  before  in  a  kind  of  liberty,  in  a 
kind  of  eafe  and  indulgence  of  themfelves,  and  ftill  their 
fin  remains  in  them,  and  they  remain  in  it  y  but  they  are 
now  under  a  fenfe  of  forrow,  under  a  weight,  under  a 
burthen,  under  an  opprefTion,  which  fignifies  they  are  alive, 
and  quickened;  for  (if  you  take  an  outward  comparifon) 
they  remain  not  fenfelefs  and  dead ;  now  lay  what  load  you 
will  upon  a  dead  man,  he  will  neither  groan,  nor  grumble  at 
it  ;  but  if  he  comes  again  to  life,  he  cries  take  off  the  burthen, 
the  weight  and  opprefTion,   that  lies  heavy  upon  me. 

This  is  the  difference  between  being  dead  in  fins  andtref^ 
p^lps,  and  being  brought  to  life  and  fenfe  again  ;  this  word 
of  life  that  comes  from  the  mouth  of  God,  begets  a  fenfe 
in  every  one  that  receiveth  it ;  it  is  of  great  fervice  and  uie 

F  f  to 


zzS  The  Word  of  God, 

lo  all  people  to  be  acquainted  with  it,  that  defirc  to  be  keirs 
of  life  eternal^  that  defire  to  be  inherhors  of  the  ki?igdo'in  ofGcd: 
But  how  fhould  they  come  by  it  ?  They  think  by  this  and  the 
other  duty,  and  temporary  performance,  to  obtain  it  j  no,  but 
if  they  will  have  life,  they  muft  have  it  from  the  God  of  life 
that  created  them,  he  muft  create  them  again  to  gccd  works  : 
They  can  have  it  but  by  one  way,  ail  muft  be  brought  to  it 
that  way  ;  it  cannot  be  by  hearing  a  man  preach  ;  unlefs 
the  fpirit  doth  co-operate  with  the  word  of  God,  there  is  no 
polFibility  of  being  quickened,  and  neceflity  binds  me  to 
neaiken  and  have  regard  to  that  one  means:  Now  I  fay  to 
you^  faith  Chrift,  fpeaking  of  people's  way  of  living  to  eter- 
nity, 11] an  Ihcth  7iQt  by  bread  akrne,  but  by  every  word  that 
proceedeth  cut  of  the  jjiGuth  of  God  ;  nov/  \('hen  we  come  to 
iinderftand  this  text,  as  fpoken  by  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  we 
did  conclude  there  was  a  pofTibility  of  underftanding  and 
hearing  that  inward  voice  and  word  of  truth  in  our  own 
hearts,  that  God  did  fpeak  to  us  by  his  Son,  Jefus  Chrift, 
who  enlightened  us.  Hereupon  meetings  were  appointed  at 
fi'-ft,  that  the  word  iliould  minifter  life  in  them,  and  life  to 
thera  that  attend  them  j  and  to  this  day  our  meetings  are  ap- 
pointed for  this  purpofe,  that  we  m.ay  have  the  miniftratioa 
of  life  and  virtue,  from  Chrift,  the  fountain  of  life  and  vir- 
tue, by  whom  we  were  to  be  quickened  and  ftrengthened, 
and  by  whom  thofe  that  are  dead  ifi  Jhis  and  trefpaffes  xvere 
quicktned. 

Therefore  I  would  have  every  one  always  to  have  a  reve- 
rence to  the  word  of  life,  that  fpeaks  in  themfelves  j  for,  if 
we  fpeak  as  we  are  moved  by  the  Spirit  of  God,  and  utter 
rhofe  things  by  verbal  teftimony,  which  God  hath  made 
known  to  us ;  if  y^u  have  not  an  oracle  in  your  bofoms, 
if  you  do  not  at  the  fame  time  perceive  an  echo  of  truth  in 
your  own  fouls,  this  will  do  you  no  good,  but  be  an  empty 
found  which  will  pafs  away  again  ;  but  the  mind  that  is  fe- 
rious  and  fettled,  in  waiting  upon  God  with  an  earneft  de- 
lue,  that  it  may  receive  benefit  in  going  to  this  and  the 
other  meeting  ;  fuch  a  one  will  fay,  I  pray  God  blefs  this 
opportunity  to  me,  that  fo  I  may  receive  benefit  to  my  foul. 
Where  people  meet  in  this  manner,  they  have  not  only  an 
udininiriration  of  dodrine  from  without,  from  this  and  the 

other 


a  Christian's  Life.  22'/ 

other  inftrument,    but  they  have  a  minijiration  of  the  word 
of  God  in  thsmfdveSy  by  which  a  man  Uveth. 

Let  us  not  be  led  and  hurried  away  with  the  grand  error  . 
of  the  times,  the  great  error  of  this  age,  and  of  the  ages  by- 
paft,  that  there  is  no  pofTibility  for  people  to  underftand 
and  hear  this  voice  of  God,  this  inward  voice.  There  are, 
fay  they,  no  immediate  teachings  now-a-days,  no  infpirations 
no w-a-days ',  they  might  as  well  fay,  that  there  are  no  conver- 
fions  now-a-days.  I  will  prove  it  from  the  holy  fcriptures, 
that  there  is  no  man  in  this  age,  is  like  to  be  converted  to 
God,  or  redeemed  from  his  iniquity,  and  brought  to  the 
knowledge  of  his  Maker,  unlefs  he  have  it  by  the  inward, 
working  of  the  eternal  God :  Not  by  man's  preaching  and 
inftrudion,  nor  by  reading  all  the  good  fermons  that  ever 
were  preached,  without  the  co-operation  of  the  holy  fanclify- 
ing  Spirit,  which  begets  life  in  them  that  believe  ;  and  if 
thefe  men  fay  none  can  be  converted,  then  we  muft  all  go 
headlong  to  hell,  even  they  and  all. 

Thefe  Quakers  may  fay  what  they  will,  there  Is  no  imme- 
diate teaching  now-a-days,  no  man  can  know  the  mind  of 
God,  nor  underftand  the  fcriptures  j  none  can  open  them 
to  you. 

But,  bleffed  be  God,  this  darknefs  is  removed  ;  this  veil 
is  gone  over  and  taken  away  y  the  brightnefs  of  the  glory 
of  the  gofpel  hath  expelled  this  darknefs,  and  thoufands 
now-a-days  do  not  only  hear  the  minifter  reprove  them, 
but  they  hear  a  voice  within  that  doth  reprove  them  for 
iniquity  ',  and  they  find  and  feel  a  judgment  and  tribunal 
within  themfelves,  and  that  God  hath  an  immediate  way 
of  counfeiling  and  inftruding  them  if  they  will  hearken 
to  him. 

You  that  are  under  any  fenfe  of  this,  that  are  come  to 
fuch  an  inward  fenfe  of  the  operation  of  the  word  of  God, 
if  you  have  heard  it  reprove  you,  exhort  you,  judge  you  and 
condemn  you,  coniider  that  this  ivord  proceeded  cut  of  the 
mouth  of  Gcd,  and  not  out  of  the  mouth  of  any  man.  You 
hear  the  fentence  of  God  upon  you  in  your  own  confciences : 
Whence  comes  it  ?  This  is  out  of  the  mouth  of  God.  Every 
word  that  comes  out  of  the  mouth  of  God,  adminifters  life, 
fenfe  and  convidion  j   and  you  feci  it  and  receive  it,  and 

you 


iiiS  The  Word  of  God, 

you  may  have  a  more  familiar  acquaintance  with  it.  There 
is  not  a  day  or  hour  that  paffes  over  your  heads  nor  mine, 
but  if  we  attend  to  this  inward  voice,  we  may  know  what 
it  fpeaks  to  us,  by  its  counfels,  dodrines,  reproofs,  con- 
virions  and  ilhiminations;  for  the  Spirit  fpeaketk  expnfsly, 
with  an'exprefs  fignification,  unto  the  fpirit  of  man  ;  and 
if  he  be  under  a  temptation  to  tell  a  lie,  and  he  comes 
to  a  little  paufe  or  queftion,  whether  he  fhall  tell  it  or 
no  ;  if  he  hearken  to  this  inward  word  he  will  not  paufe 
long  about  it,  but  fuch  a  fentence  will  arife  in  him,  as  that 
in  Jofep/i,  how  can  I  do  this  great  wickednefSy  and  fin  againfi 
God  ?  How  can  I  fpeak  a  lie,  tell  a  lie,  when  in  fo  doing 
I  fm  againft  God?  Here  is  a  fentence  of  truth,  wilt  thou 
receive  it  or  no  ?  No  fayeft  thou,  I  will  venture  to  tell  a  lie ; 
then  llialt  thou  come  into  the  rank  of  them  that  do  defpits 
to  the  Spirit  of  grace  ^  and  trafnple  under  foot  the  Son  of  God, 
and  count  the  blood  of  the  covenant  an  unholy  thing,  What 
fentence  fuch  fhall  have  at  the  latter  end,  you  may  read  at 
large  in  the  holy  fcriptures- 

Now  there  is  a  great  neceflity  that  every  one  be  perfuaded 
to  hearken  to  this  voice,  not  only  at  a  meeting,  but  on  all 
occafions  they  have  in  the  world.  I  hope  I  fpeak  to  many 
ferious  and  religious  perfons  that  are  enquiring  about  their 
im.mortal  fouls,  what  may  be  beft  for  their  fouls,  whether  it 
is  better  to  go  on  in  wickednefs,  or  leave  off;  and  that 
refoive  and  fay,  I  would  be  glad  to  leave  my  fins  as  well 
as  you,  if  I  had  power,  and  to  live  a  holy  life.  As 
for  the  want  of  power,  (that  you  have  not  power)  I  do  not 
wonder  at  it  j  for  until  you  come  to  an  cxercife  of  faith, 
in  that  which  hath  empowered  the  people  of  God,  in  all 
ages,  I  wonder  not  that  you  have  not  power.  You  fay  I 
am  fo  weak,  that  I  am  overcome  before  I  am  aware  ;  the 
devil  is  fo  fubtile  and  cunning  with  his  temptations,  that  I 
am  furprized  and  fnatched  into  temptations,  and  overcome 
with  evil  before  I  am  aware  :  He  is  like  a  roaring  lion,  go- 
ing about  continually,  feeking  whom  he  may  devour.  But 
whom  can  he  devour  ?  Can  he  devour  thofe  that  hearken  and 
fubmit  to  the  word  of  God  ?  If  he  could,  then  none  could 
efcape  him ;  if  the  devil  could  pluck  out  of  God's  hands, 
then  nobody  would  go  to  Heaven,  nor  never  lliall,  if  he  have 
power.  "V^here 


a  Christian's  Life.  22^ 

Vhere  the  devil  finds  any  in  their  own  hands,  as  fuppofc 
a  religious  perfon  of  this  and  the  other  religion,  who  never 
experienced  any  thing  of  this  power  of  God,  but  trufteth  to 
his  duties  and  performances,  this  man  is  in  his  own  hand  ; 
now  fuch  a  one  the  tempter  hath  power  over  :  He  can 
make  him  cheat  his  neighbour,  and  lead  him  into  drunkennefs 
and  uncleannefs  fometimes,  and  into  the  greateft  abomina- 
tions ;  but  if  a  man  come  into  the  exercife  of  faith  and 
dependence  upon  God,  and  hath  left  trufting  in  himfelf 
and  faith,  I  fee  I  cannot  preferve  myfelf  from  fm,  I  fee  a 
neceiTity  of  putting  my  truft  in  the  Lord,  and  of  waiting 
upon  God's  power  to  keep  me  :  If  the  tempter  come  to 
fuch  a  one,  he  cannot  prevail,  all  the  devils  in  hell  cannot 
ftir  him  one  jot ;  the  devil  may  tempt  him,  but  he  ftands 
in  the  power  of  faith  ',  he  knows  his  name,  and  faith,  get 
thee  behind  me  fat  an  ;  when  the  devil  comes  before  him,  and 
lays  a  temptation  before  him,  he  cafts  it  behind  him  ;  if  the 
devil  rife  up  againft  him,  he  can  chain  him  down,  he  can 
fav  in  the  name  of  the  Lord,  get  thee  behind  me  Jatan. 

This  is  the  reafon  why  many  are  tempted,  and  not  over- 
taken ',  why  many  are  tempted  to  fin  and  not  overcome  : 
How  comes  it  to  pafs  that  we  do  not  do  every  thing  that  we 
are  tempted  to  ? 

There  is  fomething  that  keeps  us  ;  the  devil  is  not  fo 
bad  to  tempt,  but  we  are  as  bad  in  our  own  inclinations  to 
yield  to  him  ;  thQ  heart  is  deceitful  above  all  things^  and 
defperately  wicked ;  ivho  can  know  it  ?  There  is  more  wick- 
ednefs  in  it,  than  can  be  uttered.  If  people  be  tempted  and 
not  overcome,  fomething  muft  preferve  them  j  if  there  be 
fomething  that  preferves  a  man  from  any  evil,  it  can  preferve 
him  from  all  evil. 

The  reafon  why  fome  people  are  led  into  temptation  fome- 
times, and  refift  it,  is  becaufe  fometimes  the  temptation  fuits 
not  their  inclination ;  fometimes  the  reputation  lies  in  the 
way,  fometimes  one  thing,  fometimes  another  :  But  when 
a  thing  they  are  tempted  to,  fuits  their  profit  and  pleafure, 
then  away  with  the  fear  of  God,  and  nothing  fhall  hinder 
them  ;  I  will  have  my  pleafure. 

But  they  that  underftand  the  keeper  of  Ifrael,  and  come  to 
know  his  power  lying  in  their  hearts,  thefe  always  bring  their 

dQQds 


/i^-^o  The  Word  of  God, 

deeds  and  temper  before  him,  and  they  come  to  him  for  a 
verdicl  and  judgment,  and  they  ask,  doth  this  tend  to  the 
honour  or  diihonour  of  God  ?  Is  it  good  or  evil  ?  The  oracle 
of  God  in  thy  heart  fays  do  it  not,  it  is  evil,  thou  wilt  kindl& 
the  indgnat.on  of  the  Lord  agatnft  thee  ;  what  ivill  it  profit 
thee  to  gai?i  the  whole  vjorld  and  lofe  thy  own  fciil ?  or  what 
wilt  thou  give  in  exchange  for  thy  f oil  ?  Here  is  one  at  hand 
that  can  give  counfel  to  all  of  us,  at  all  times  j  this  is  he 
that  we  mull:  advance ;  our  labour  and  work  upon  the  ftage 
of  this  world,  among  the  Tons  and  daughters  of  men,  is 
to  advance  the  virtue  and  great  authority  of  the  mighty 
Counfellor,  Chrift  Jefus ;  we  do  fay  and  affirm,  in  the  name 
of  God,  that  the  fame  light  by  which  God  hath  brought 
us  out  of  darkaefs  into  his  marvel  ous  light,  and  from 
the  power  of  the  devil  into  the  king'om  of  his  dear  Son  ;  the 
fame  power  is  extended  to  you,  that  you  may  be  fanccfied 
and  faved  from  yourjms. 

One  fed  wirll  fay,  my  tenets  are  fo  and  fo,  and  our  ordi- 
nances are  fo  and  fo,  will  you  come  over  to  us  ?  You  ihall 
-be  a  member  of  our  church. 

Our  duty  is  to  come  over  to  the  grace  of  God  that.fliines 
in  our  hearts ',  now  we  are  witnefles  for  God,  that  he  doth 
not  dejlre  the  death  of  them  that  die,  but  rather  that  they  woii-d 
turn  and  live  '^  for  his  word  is  gone  forth,  and  his  light 
fhines,  and  his  glory  is  ri^en  upon  the  nations,  that  they 
that  inhabit  the  earth  may  fear  him.  Year  God,  and  give  g'ory 
to  his  name,  fcr  the  hour  oj  his  judgment  is  come :  Do  )-ou 
know  that  to  be  true  ?  That  you  may  not  be  deluded,  yoii 
fhall  certainly  know  that  the  hour  of  God's  judgment  is  come. 

Thus  when  any  one  fuffers  him' elf  to  be  led  away  with  the 
evil  one,  when  he  feels  after  that  a  remorie  upon  his  own 
heart,  he  finds  a  fecret  judgment  and  tribunal  let  up  in  his 
own  bofom,  againft  whoredom,  lying,  drunkenness,  fraud 
and  other  fms,  he  knows  he  hath  done  amifs  j  he  is  not 
going  to  a  confeifor,  that  will  take  off  and  remove  the  guilt 
from  his  confcience  j  he  hath  offended  the  majefty  of  the  great 
God,  and  God  hath  fignified  it  to  him,  is  not  judgment  com.e, 
and  hath  not  God  let  it  up  in  his  own  heart  ?  If  through 
cuftom  in  fin  thou  lofeft  the  fenfe  of  his  judgment,  it  is  not 
becaufe  God  hath  determined  to  take  advantage  agamft  thee, 

but 


a  Christian's  Life.  j?jf 

but  bccaufe  thou  acleft  againft  thyfelf,  and  comefl:  to  be  pa/i 
feeling;  thou  waft  once  under  a  fenfe  of  thefe  things,  and 
thou  waft  not  pafl  feeUng  ;  if  thou  at  any  time  told  thy  pa- 
rents a  lie,  thou  hadft  remorfe ;  but  now  thou  canft  tell  a 
lie,  and  not  feel  it,  thou  art  pafl  feeling  ;  whofe  fault  is  this  ? 
The  Lord  would  have  brought  thee  to  love  the  truth,  but 
thou  choofeft  lying ;  if  thou  perifh,  thy  blood  ivill  be  uvon 
thine  own  heady  the  Lord   is  clear  from  it* 

They  that  receive   the  word    of  God    have   life.     For 
man  liveth  not  by  bread  alone,   hut   by   every  ivord  that  pro-' 
ceedeth  out  of  the  rnouth  of  God,     You  are  fenfible  of  God*s 
fpeaking  this   word  to  you  :    I  exhort  you  all  in  the  love 
of  God,   that  you   would  prize  this   manner  of  fpeaking, 
and  look  upon    it  as   the  greateft  mercy  that  ever  you  en- 
joyed,   that   God    hath  not   given   over  fpeaking  to  you, 
and  that  conscience  hath  not  given,  over  fpeaking  to  you^ 
and  that  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  doth  yet  Ji rive  with  you ; 
he  will   not  always  ftrive  ;    you  may   be  of  that    fort  of 
fools  before  you  die,  that  make  a  mock  of  fwy  and  be  ^i 
trees  twice  dead,    and  plucked  up   by    the  roots.     You   that 
are  fenfible  of  this  inward  voice,  prize  it  above  all   your 
mercies  ;  health  and  wealth,  and  all  other  mercies,  are  not 
worthy  to   be  compared  to  this  voice  of  God  fpeaking  in 
you  :    They  that  prize  this,  will  never  complain  for  want 
of  power  ;  they  will  find  power  in   it ;  all  the  power  ia 
Heaven  and    Earth  is  contained  in  this  truth  that  fliines  un- 
to you.     They   that   come  to   be  exercifed  in  this   word, 
receive  power  from  God,  for  God  gives    it  to  them  ;  he 
gives  them  power  by  degrees  (from  being  fons  of  Belial^ 
fons  of  the  devil)  to  become  yo;2J"  of  God,  even  to  as  many  as 
believe  in  his   name.     They  that   receive  this   truth,    grow 
tender  of  a  He,  of  a  vain  word  ;  they  find  themfelves  grow 
tender,  feeling  and  fenfible.     Here  is  a  token  that  the  God 
of  life  is  quickening  them  ;  I  am  now  tender  of  fpeaking 
a  lie   to  my  neighbour  ;  I  will   not  do  that  thing  to  ano- 
ther,   that  I   would   not   have  another  do    to   me  ;    when 
you   come  to  a  tender   ftate,    which  is   far   better  than   a 
hard-hearted  ftate,  you  will  have  an  evidence  in  yourselves, 
that  man  liveth  not  by  bread  alone,   but  by  every  word  that 
{>r0(;eeds  out  of  th^  mouth  of  God, 

BlelTed 


2^2  ■  The  Word  of  God, 

BlefTed  are  they  that  God  hath  brought  into  acquaintance 
with  his  word ;  of  all  nations  and  people  upon  the  earth, 
they  are  a  blefTed  people  j  though  there  ai'e  manifold  blef- 
fings  that  reach  indifferently  to  all,  the  fun  Jhines,  and 
the  rain  falls  on  the  evil  and  the  goody  and  on  the  jufl 
and  unjuft ;  yet  this  is  a  bleffing  that  can  only  make 
the  foul  happy,  that  an  intercourfe  between  it  and  its 
Maker  is  open  ;  that  there  is  an  open  intercourfe  for  the 
Lord  to  hear  a  man  cry,  and  he  to  receive  his  word ;  all 
thofe  that  God  hath  brought  into  covenant  with  himfelf 
by  Chrid:,  he  hath  made  fenfible  of  this  intercourfe  and 
way  of  God*s  fpeaking  to  his  people,  which  he  fpake  to 
them  by  in  former  days  :  Take  heed  that  this  way  is  not 
ftopt  up ;  you  know  by  what  it  was  opened,  and  what 
will  flop  it  up  again ;  when  you  were  in  much  trouble 
and  grief,  you  cried  to  the  Lord,  and  he  delivered  you : 
But  if  I  regard  iniquity  in  my  hearty  faid  David,  the  Lord 
voill  not  hear  me:  You  cried  to  the  Lord  again,  it  may 
be,  and  he  did  not  anfwer  you ;  and  the  Lord  cried  to 
you  and  you  anfwered  him  not,  but  hearkened  to  your 
lufts. 

Yet  the  Lord  by  his  long-fuffering  and  patience  hath  won 
upon  a  remnant,  and  hath  brought  them  over  to  believe 
and  truft  in  his  power,  to  remove  out  of  the  way  that 
which  hindered  the  intercourfe  between  God  and  their  fouls. 
'W\idX  a  great  ftir  was  there  in  removing  out  of  the  way 
the  pride,  corruption,  enmity,  loofenefs,  wantonnefs,  and 
abundance  more  of  evil  things,  that  made  the  foul  like 
a  wildernefs?  What  hacking  and  burning  up  was  there? 
God's  word,  like  a  hammer,  and  like  a  fire,  did  break  up 
and  hum  up  thefe  things  ;  and  the  fame  word  of  God, 
like  a  fword,  did  cut  down  thofe  fms  and  lufts  which  pre- 
vailed over  you  before :  By  this  means  God  hath  opened 
a  way  for  you,  to  have  accefs  to  him.,  and  for  his  word 
to  have  accefs  to  you:  When  you  come  to  the  Lord  in 
this  wav,  you  know  you  live  by  this  word,  and  if  you 
hear  the  word  of  the  Lord  fpoken  immediately  to  you, 
your  joy  and  confolation  encreafeth,  and  you  have  fweet 
communion  and  fellowfhip  with  God  and  Chrift,  and  with 
one  another,  by  this   covenant   of  life.      How  came  you 

into 


a  Christian's  Life.  2^^ 

into  it  ?  It  was  by  removing  a  great  deal  of  rubbifh  out  of 
the  way.  If  you  fliould  let  this  rubbifh  grow  up  ai:^ain, 
which  kept  you  from  the  joy  of  the  Holy  Ghofl,  will  it 
not  do  it  again  ?  If  your  pride,  corruption,  enmity,  pre- 
judice, loofenefs  and  wantonnefs,  if  thefe  be  fufi^ered  to 
grow  up  in  any  of  you,,  they  will  do  as  they  did  before, 
they  will  feparate  you  from  the  Lord  and  from  one  ano- 
ther: As  the  truth  brought  you  to  God  and  this  heavenly 
fellowlliip  with  him,  fo  if  a  wrathful  mind  and  wanton 
fpirit  get  up  again,  it  will  feparate  you  from  God,  and 
fcatter  you  from  one  another,  then  you  uiil  live  in  the 
outward  life,  and  die  to  the  inward  one  and  periih :  Re- 
member you  were  told  fo. 

Every  one  that  goes  from  this  living  word,  and  fuffers 
any  thing  to  arife  of  the  old  nature,  fo  much  as  that  rif- 
eth,  fo  much  will  your  way  of  intercourfe  with  God  be 
ftopt  j  fometimes  men  cry  to  God,  but  they  have  a  bar 
in  their  way  ;  and  they  come  for  comfort  to  the  throne 
of  grace,  but  they  cannot  receive  thofe  miniftrations  of  joy 
and  peace,  which  they  defire  ',  their  foollfh  hearts  are  dar- 
kenedy  and  their  iimids  blinded^  and  they  will  go  on  in 
darknefs,  and  be  left  out  of  the  holy  covenant  which  God 
hath  called  his    people  to. 

You  that  God  hath  engaged  to  be  his,  by  the  operati- 
on of  his  power,  O  live  in  a  holy  fear  and  watchful- 
nefs  ;  and  know  this,  that  let  your  underfcandings  and  gifts 
be  what  they  will,  you  have  nothing  but  what  is  given 
you  ,•  and  what  God  -hath  given  you,  he  can  take  away. 
Thou  haft  decked  thyfelf  with  my  flax,  and  my  wool,  and 
unth  my  filver  and  gold,  and  other  ornaments^  and  follovoed 
thy  lovers,  therefore  ivill  I  take  them,  aivay  from,  thf^e,  and 
flrip  thee  of  all  thou  glorieji  in.  Thofe  that  forget  God, 
of  whom  they  had  tihefe  things,  that  forget  their  broken- 
nefs  of  heart,  and  the  fubjedion  of  their  fpirits  to  God: 
if  they  forget  this,  let  them  know,  that  let  their  parts  be 
what  they  will,  they  will  certainly  wither,  and  their  in- 
ward life  will  fail  :  You  that  have  regard  to  your  own 
fouls,  and  do  deiire  heartily,  at  this  time,  to  be  quick- 
ened, and  find  that  the  Lord  hath  removed  your  dead- 
nefs,  and  quickened  and  railed  you  to  fuch  a   degree  and 

G  c  meafu^e 


2J4  *r/;e  Necessity  of  a  Holy 

meamre  of  life,  that  you  can  fav,  I  find  commiinian  with 
God,  and  fellowlhip  \(/ith  my  friends  and  brethren  in  that 
one  eternal  life,  I  pray  God  you  may  continue  in  it  long, 
and  lay  down  your  heads  in  this  bleflcd,  heavenly  life. 
Now  that  you  may  fo  do,  keep  yourfelves  low  and  hum- 
ble, and  in  the  fear  of  God,  and  keep  your  ears  always 
open  to  his  word,  and  live  as  becomes  thole  t/u7t  are  born 
again  and  begotten  of  God,  and  are  brought  to  partake 
of  the  divine  life.  Let  temptations  furround  you,  that 
life  will  preserve  you  ;  he  that  never  fmned  is  with  you^ 
to  keep  you  from  fin;  and  he  that  never  deceived  anv, 
will  keep  you  from  being  deceived.  To  his  counfel  and 
condud,  and  to  his  divine  care  and  protection,  I  now 
commit  you. 

S  E  R  M  O  N      XXL 

The  Necessity  of  a  FIoly  Life  and 

Conversation. 

Preached  at  St.  Martin' s-Le-Gr  AN  If,  March 
2.6 J  \68y. 

How  happy  are  they  that  have  bread  in  their  own 
houies  !  and  that  can  draw  water  out  of  their  own 
wells  !  Thefe  have  a  blelTcd,  glorious  dwelling- 
place  ;  thefe  are  the  children  that  their  father  provides  for  : 
All  the  divine  treafures  and  the  riches  of  heavenly  thmgs 
are  laid  up  for  thefe  j  O  that  all  that  have  a  fight  of  this 
bleffed  ftate,  were  got  into  it !  that  their  minds  might  not 
more  wander  j  that  people  might  not  be  fcattc'ed  in  their 
thoughts^  that  when  they  meet  together,  they  might  have 
their  expectations  entirely  from  that  God  whom  they  pro- 
fcfs  to  worfliip.  'Lordy  thou  haft  faid  that  thou  vjilt  teach 
thy  people  thyfelf ;  here  a  cry  goes  up  to  the  Lord,  and 
their  cxped'ations  through  faith  pitched  upon  God  ;  they 
never  meet  in  vain,  but  a  ivell  fpri^gs  upy  ojid  the  ivater 
if  Ife  comes  to    them,    by   which   they    meet  with   divine 

refrdii- 


Life  and  Conversation.  2j^ 

refrefhmcnts  ;  for  you  know  the  promife  that  our  Lord 
made  to  his  difciples,  he  that  drinketli  of  the  ivater  that  I 
fliall  give  him,  fJiall  never  thirjt  more.  \'(!^hy,  will  once 
drinking  ferve,  becaufe  I  have  tailed  of  the  living  w?ter 
that  the  Lord  Chrifl:  gives  me  ;  will  that  ferve  ?  No,  but 
he  giveth  me  a  fubflantial  river,  that  is  the  reafon  why 
I  Ihall  thirft  no  more  ',  it  Iball  be  in  me  a  ivell  of  lii.i?tg 
ivater,  f fringing  up  to  everlajiuig  life  ;  blefled  are  the  wit- 
nefles  of  it  ;  thefe  are  they  that  are  fatisfied  concerning 
religion  and  dod:rine  ;  they  are  fatisfied  concerning  wor- 
fhip  ;  they  are  looking  after  no  new  things  j  when  they 
meet  together,  they  meet  in  the  name  of  the  Lord,  and 
they  have  their  eyes  to  him,  who  is  a  fountain,  and  they 
difcern  a  brightnefs  and  a  glory  that  is  unfpeakable  ;  and 
the  glory  that  is  fpeakable,  that  appears  many  times  thro' 
inftruments,  will  not  fatisfy  them  ;  there  is  fomething  be- 
yond that,  which  muft  fatisfy ;  this  will  never  do  it  ; 
luch  as  thefe  will  never  be  fatisfied  with  hearing  and  feeing, 
till  they  come  to  hear  and  fee  that  ivhich  is  umitterahle^ 
and  then  they  are  fatisfied  :  Chrifl  had  preached  m.any  fer- 
mons  in  the  hearing  of  his  difciples,  and  there  were  a  great 
many  faid,  that  there  ivas  never  any  fpake  like  him,  or 
preached  like  him  ;  yet  one  of  them  that  was  the  neareft 
to  him,  and  moft  acquainted  and  intimate  with  him,  after 
fome  years  meeting  and  hearing  of  his  fermons,  he  cries 
out,  ftinu  us  the  Father,   and   it  fnfficeth   us. 

My  friends,  this  comes  near  to  many  of  your  ftates  ; 
many  of  you  have  heard  long,  and  have  heard  the  fpeak- 
able word  of  God,  that  which  could  be  uttered,  that  which 
could  be  fpoken  forth,  by  the  dcmonilration  of  the  Holv 
Ghoft,  by  them  that  have  received  it  of  the  Father ;  this 
you  have  heard  long,  and  )'et  there  are  many  of  \ou,  that 
if  you  come  to  a  ferious  fearch,  you  will  find  a  want ; 
you  will  ftiil  find  that  you  have  not  that  fatisfaction  that 
puts  you  beyond  doubt,  beyond  fear  j  there  is  fomething 
that  ftands  in  the  way,  that  hinders  your  enjoyment  of 
the  unfpeakable  glory  of  the  unfpeakable  word,  and  this 
will  neVer  be  rem.oved,  but  by  your  innocent  fubmitting 
to  the  work  of  the  power  of  God  in  your  own  hearts, 
that  fo  you  m.ay  not  only  be  believers,   but  come  to  be 

really 


2j6  The  Necessity  of  a  Holy 

really  baptized,  and  then  all  is  out  of  doubt  ;  for  our 
Lord  faid,  he  that  believeth,  and  is  baptized,  {hall  be  fav 
ed  ;  he  doth  not  fay  he  may  be  faved  ;  but,  he  fhall  be 
faved, 

"W^oful  experience  hath  told  us  in  our  days,  that  a  great 
many  have  believed  the  truth,  and  yet  they  are  never  like 
to  be  faved,  they  have  iriade  fJiipivreck  of  their  faith ;  but 
if  they  had  been  baptized,  if  they  would  have  endured  the 
baptiirn,  if  they  would  have  been  buried  with  Chrift  in 
baptifm,  they  mould  have  been  faved,  every  one  of  them  ; 
and  now  there  are  a  great  many  that  remain  in  the  belief 
of  the  truth,  and  yet  they  are  not  baptized,  thev  are  not 
dead,  not  buried,  notwithftanding  they  have  received  like 
precicus  faith  ivith  us,  that  faith  ^vhich  is  of  the  operation 
of  God,  and  that  is  like  precious  in  its  nature  to  all  that 
do  receive  it,  and  would  work  the  fame  efted  in  all  too, 
if  it  were  not  obflructed  j  but  notwithftanding  they  have 
received  faith  towards  the  faving  of  their  fouls,  yet  their 
fouls  are  captives,  their  fouls  are  fubject  to  lufts,  and 
plcafures,  and  vanities,  and  unto  empty  and  foolifh  things, 
and  to  paiTions  and  corruptions,  after  they  have  received 
faith. 

For  if  you  take  one  that'  is  a  believer  of  truth,  that 
is  overtaken  with  his  luft,  and  pafTions,  and  corruptions, ' 
he  v/ill  com.monly  own  that  he  believeth  the  contrary,  he 
believeth  that-  thefe  things  fhould  not  be,  that  it  ought  to 
be  otherwife  :  This  is  the  fignification  of  truth  againft 
untruth  ;  if  it  Ihould  be  otherwife,  why  is  it  thus  then  ? 
"Why,  he  finds  a  life  to  fpring  up  in  that  which  is  cor- 
ruptible, that  is  always  contrary  to  the  life  of  God,  and 
at  enmity  \<'ith  it  :  %'hat  ihall  I  do  ?  I  believe  the  truth, 
I  know  it  is  an  holy  thing,  it  leads  ail  that  fubmiit'  to 
it  to  a  holy  life,  and  there  is  this  and  that  unholy  thing, 
this   and  that   corrupt   thing   remains,    what   ihall   I   do  ? 

It  is  an  evident  demonftration  that  thou  wanteft  the 
baptifm  of  \\\m  m  ivhojti  thou  helicveftj  thou  haft  believed 
m  Chrift  Jcfus  that  cometh  after  John,  and  was  before 
him ;  and  now  having  believed  in  him,  thou  wanteft  to 
be  baptized  by  him.  and  for  want  of  that,  the  pollution 
and  corruption   thut  was  in  thv  nature  in  the  time  of  thy 

aIicn?aion, 


Life  and  Conversation,'  2j^ 

alienation,  prevails  ftill  upon  thee,  contrary  to  thy  faith; 
and  there  is  no  coming  lo  obtain  this  baptifm,  but  by 
finking  down  into  that  which  will  flay  thee,  that  which 
will  kill  thee:  But  there  is  fuch  a  fhifting  to  lave  ones 
life,  there  are  fo  many  twiftings  and  twinings  of  people 
to  fave  their  lives,  that  at  laft  they  lofe  them ;  but  there 
are  none  that  could  ever  find  that  life  that  is  eternal,  but 
thofe  that  are  willing  to  be  given  up  to  the  dead,  and 
fubmit  to  this  baptifm,  thac  is,  by  the  Holy  Ghoft  and 
by  fire :  Thefe  only  do  come  to  life,  they  come  to  the 
refurrection,  for  you  never  knew  any  that  died  this  death 
but  they  rofe  again  ;  it  is  as  impoflible  for  death  to  hold 
any  one  down  that  is  buried  in  this  baptifm,  as  it  was 
impoiTible  to  hold  Chrift  down,  when  he  was  in  the  grave ; 
the  fame  power  that  brought  agctin  our  Lord  Chrift  from 
the  dead,  the  fame  poiver  it  is  that  quickens  us,  while  we 
remain  in  thefe  mortal  bodies,  after  we  have  fuftained  this 
death   and  crucificlion. 

But  who  can  believe  this  faying  ?  For  this  is  a  hard 
faying,  ivho  can  bear  it  ?  Is  it  not  enough  that  I  am  a 
believer,  which  makes  me  a  Friend,  and  entitles  me  to  a 
community  am.ong  you;  and  as  long  as  I  hold  the  truth, 
and  profe'fs  the  truth,  I  am  looked  upon  as  one  of  your 
fociety  ?  This  is  very  true  ;  this  doth  entitle  people  un- 
to the  outv/ard  privileges  of  the  Church  of  Chrill:  -,  but 
there  is  another  inner  court,  that  lies  under  the  angel's 
reed  (the  meafuring-reed)  that  is  to  be  meafured ;  the 
temple  is  meafured,  and  every  worfhipper  in  the  tem.ple 
is  meafured  ;  there  was  an  outv/ard  court,  that  was  for  re- 
prefenting  the  Church  of  God  in  general,  from  the  par- 
ticular ;  the  outward  court  was  not  meafured,  that  the 
Gentiles  might  come  in  ;  the  unbaptized  people,  which  were 
never  regenerated,  thev  mieht  come  fo  far  as  the  outward 
court,  but  this  did  not  entitle  them  to  the  privileges  of 
the  houfe  of  God,  nor  to  any  worihip  or  facrifice  that 
was  accepted  upon  God's   altar. 

It  concerns  you  and  m^e,  my  friends,  to  be  ferious  about 
matters  of  this  moment  and  importance,  and  not  fpend 
our  days,  and,  as  it  were,  fpeak  by  rote,  under  an  airy 
profeiTion,  though  of  truth  itfelf,  without  conlidering  what 

progrefs 


2^8  The  Necessity  of  a  Holy 

progrefs  you  have  made,  what  benefit  you  have  obtained, 
and  whether   you   are   come   not    only    to    the  Jhadow   of 
good  things   to   co?ne^    but   to   the   very    fubftance    of   the 
heavenly  things  j  for  the  comers  to  the  ontivard  ivorjhlp  could 
nevery  ivlth   t/ufe  facrijiccs   they   offered,    be   made  perfect  ; 
the  corners  thereunto  were  not  made  perfe6i^  as  to  the  things 
pertalnh/g  to  the  confcience^  fpeaking  there   of  the  outward 
worlliip,   Heb.  x,    i  j   but    coming  to  the  heavenly  things, 
whereof  the  other  was   but   a  fliadow?    they  made   people 
pcrfsd:,  as  to   the  confcience,  and  did   bring  thein  to  fal- 
vation.     The  apoftie  alludes  to  this  baptifm,  for  he  fpeaks 
in  a  figure  of  the   eight  perfons  that  ivere  faved  in  Noah^j" 
ark  ;  then  he   brings  down  the   allegory  to  chriflian  bap- 
tifm,   not   only  the  baptifm   of  John,    the   fore-runner  of 
Chrift,  that  preached   of  Chrift,  but  to  the  chriftian  bap- 
tifm itu,^if;   hy   the  like  figure  lu hereof  bapt if jn  noiu  fcrcetk 
lis,   faith  the   apoflle  ;   not  the  putting  away   of  the  filth  of 
the  flejli,   but  the  anfiver  of  a  good  confcience,     What  doth 
he  mean  bv  baptifm  faving  us  ?    He  means,  the  anfiver  of 
a  good  confcience  toivards    God^    through  the  refurreS'hon   of 
Chrift  fro?n  tht  dead  ;  fo  that  chriftian  baptifm   did  bring 
along   with   it   the   cleanfifig  and   putting  away   of  all  fin 
cut  of  the  coifcicnce,   that  might  bring  them  under  doubts 
and  fcruplcs  ;   and   then   there   is  an   arifing  of  Jefusj    the 
Saviour,  in  the  confcience,  the  Mediator  that  brought  them 
to   anfwer  for   them   in   the  fight   of  God  ',    for  if  people 
be  confcious  of  fm,  and  do   leave  off  their  fin,    this  doth 
not  yet  clcanfe  the   confcience  j  for  there  ftill  remains  a 
confcience  of  fin  j   tis  not  the  leaving  oif  our  fin  that  makes 
our  atonement  with  God,  or  that  expiates  our  guilt,    or 
doth  away  the  guilt  of  the  fins  that  w^e  have  committed  , 
but   there  muft    be  a   forfaking  and   a  leaving    off  fin    by 
the  virtue  and  power  of  the  ipirit,  by  which  we  are  ena- 
bled,   not  only  to  leave  off  fin,    but  are  guided  and    di- 
rected  to   the  Mediator,  v:hofe  blood  alove  reconcileth  us  to 
God,  and  cleanfeth  us  from  all  fin.     If  I  fhould  never  com- 
mit a  fin  while  I  live,  it  is  not   this   fimply  in  itfelf  that 
will  make  m.e  have  the  anfwer  of  a  good  confcience  in  the 
fight  of  God  ;  for  there  remains  the  guilt  of  fin  contraded 
in  the  days  of  unbelief,  which  is  a  bar  and  hinderance,  that; 

none 


Lite  and  Conversation.  zjc^ 

none  can  approach  the  Holy  God,  but  in  the  atonement 
and  falvation  that  comes  by  Jefus  Chrift  ,*  for  all  that  be- 
lieve and  obey  the  gofpel  are  accepted  in  Chrift,  and  that 
upon  the  account  of  Chrift's  precious  blood,  that  cleanfeth 
us  from  all  fin  and  unrighteoufnefs.  Whom  doth  it  cleanfe  ? 
Thofe  only  that  forfake  their  fins,  and  by  his  power  are 
brought  to  a  holy  life  ;  they,  by  the  virtue  of  his  pow- 
er, and  the  cleanfing  of  his  blood,  come  to  have  their  for- 
mer fins  removed  from  them,  as  far  as  the  eaft  is  from 
the  weft. 

But  what  is  this  to  them  that  remain  in  their  fins  ?  what 
is  this  to  tfiem  that  are  not  baptized  for  t/ie  dead^  that 
have  not  put  off  the  old  man,  nor  put  on  the  new  man^  but 
have  only  put  on  the  name  and  profcflion  of  Chrift,  and 
put  on  the  outfide  of  him,  his  garment,  but  have  not  put 
him  on,  they  are  not  created  again  in  Chrift  Jefus  unto 
good  ivorksy  that  they  fnight  walk  in  them  ?  No  wonder 
there  remains  a  confcience  of  fin  in  them,  there  is  a  bar 
that  hinders  them  from  the  fight  of  the  glory  of  God, 
and  from  real  and  true  fatisfaction,  concerning  their  atone- 
ment and  reconciliation  with  God,  and  this  hinders  them 
from  the  enjoyment  of  that  peace  that  paffeth  underfanding ; 
and  it  is  no  wonder,  becaufe  they  are  not  come  to  this 
baptifm  that  brings  the  anfiier  of  a  good  confcience  in  the 
fight  of  God;  they  are  not  rifen  with  Chrift;  how  fhould 
they?  for  they  are  not  buried  with  him.  Know  ye  not 
that  fo  many  of  us  (  faith  the  apoftle  )  as  were  baptized 
into  Chrift,  were  baptized  into  his  death  ;  therefore  we  are 
buried  ivith  him  by  baptifm  into  death ;  that  like  as  Chrift 
was  raifed  from  the  dead  by  the  glory  of  the  Father,  even. 
fo  ive  alfo  fhould  walk  in  newnefs  of  .life,  Rom.  vi,  3, 
Here  is  a  change  figured  out  between  them  that  had  par- 
taken of  the  spiritual  baptifm,  and  were  come  again  to  the 
participation  of  life  in  the  refurredion  of  Jeius  Chrift, 
and   thofe  that  were  not  baptized. 

So  it  is  now  with  every  one  that  cometh  to  believe 
the  truth,  and  make  a  profeiuon  of  it ;  there  is  a  way 
caft  up,  and  there  is  a  door  opened  for  falvation  ;  but 
the  grand  queftion  that  every  one  ought  to  enquire  about, 
and  put   to   themfelves,  is,  w4iat  progrefs  they  have  made 

in 


240  The  Necessity  cf  a  Holy 

in  this  way  ?  "Whether  they  are  baptized  yet  or  no  ?  whether 
they  have  put  off  the  old  man  ivith  his  deeds,  and  put  on 
the  nevj  man  and  the  neiv  yuan  s  deedsy  ivhich  are  righteouf- 
iiefs  and  hoUnefs  ?  They  that  find,  that  though  they  are 
believers,  they  are  fhort  of  this,  they  do  alfo  find  that 
their  fliortnefs  is  their  hinderance,  their  fliortnefs  in  not 
coming  up  to  the  pattern  that  hath  been  fliev/ed  them,  is 
their  hinderance,  To  that  they  enjoy  not  the  things  here 
fpoken  of  j  the  being  under  this  ^Qn^Qy  and  really  fitting 
under  this  ^qvSq,  in  a  meeting,  though  there  ihould  be  no 
man  fpeaking  to  them  outwardly,  yet  being  come  to  this 
faith,  and  made  partakers  of  this  baptilm,  people  would 
find  in  their  own  bofoms  the  hidden  word  of  life  mini- 
ftering  to  their  condition ;  they  would  have  enough,  there 
would  not  be  a  famine  of  the  word  unto  them,  nor  they 
ihould  not  need  to  be  in  expectation  of  going  out  to  this 
or  the  other  inftrument,  but  they  would  be  fatisfied  when 
they  are  met  together  with  the  prefence  of  the  Lord,  that 
the  Lord  is  in  the  midil:  of  them,  niiniftering  unto  them 
the  word  of  life,  in  his  operating  and  working,  fpeaking 
in  a  tongue  that  every  one  can  underiland,  fpeaking  with 
a  kind  of  voice  and  language,  that  every  one  may  un- 
derfcand  his  own  frate  and  condition  ;  and  this  is  the  way 
that  God  brought  up  people  from  the  beginning,  to  the 
knowledge  of  heavenly  things,  and  opening  of  the  myfte- 
ries  of  lalvation  ;  we  had  it  not  of  men,  but  of  Jefus  our 
Lord  ',  he  was  our  great  minifter,  we  waited  upon  him, 
and  trufted  in  him,  and  he  taught  us  himfelf ;  he  hath  mi- 
nillered  to  us  at  our  filent  and  quiet  waiting  upon  him, 
thofe  things  that  were  convenient  for  us  ',  we  might  well 
fay,  he  gave  us  our  food  in  due  fiafon  ;  he  hath  not  only 
given  Jtrohg  jneat  unto  jnen,  but  hath  miniftered  of  the/in^ 
cere  milk  of  his  word  imto  babes,  that  lived  in  fmcerity 
and  felf-denial,  loving  God  above  all  things  ,*  and  he  taught 
and  conduced  us  in  our  way,  this  way  of  fimplicity,  un- 
til our  underftandings  came  to  be  opened,  until  our  fouls 
came  to  be  prepared  to  receive  the  myfteries  of  his  king- 
dom. 

In  thofe  days  there  were  feme  that  ftarted  up  in  know- 
ledge, and  that  built  their  nejls  on  hlghy  a?id  took  flax  and 

ivool, 


Life  and  Convbrsatiot^,  241 

WQoly  and  gold  and  filver^  and  decked  themf elves  with  them  y 
but  the  Lord  found  them  out,  and  brought  them  down, 
and  took  the  crown  from  their  head,  and  cloathed  them 
with  dillionour.  So  God  doth  from  age  to  age  ;  his  judg- 
ments >3(^ill  begin  at  his  own  houfe  :  If  you  would  grow 
in  the  grace  and  in  the  knowledge  of  our  Lord  and  Sail- 
our  Jefus  Chr/Ji,  then  grow  in  humility  and  f elf-denial, 
and  keep  a  conftant  watch  upon  your  hearts  ;  examine 
your  hearts,  and  commune  with  yourfehes  upon  your  beds^ 
and  be  ftlll  ;  take  heed  left  you  fin  again  ft  the  Lord,  and 
provoke  him.  There  were  fome  that  provoked  the  Lord  of 
oldy  and  they  committed  tvco  great  evils  :  W-^hat  be  they  t 
They  have  gone  avjay,  and  forfaken  the  fountain  of  liv- 
ing water  ;  as  much  as  to  fay,  they  have  not  their  de- 
pendence upon  an  invifible  pov/er,  as  they  ought  to  have  : 
For  I  am  a  living  fountain,  and  it  is  by  an  invifible  pow- 
er that  I  am  able  to  counfel,  teach,  dired,  purify,  and 
open  their  underftandings  ;  but  they  have  forfaken  mc,  that 
is  one  great  evil  ;  and  the  other  is,  they  would  not  be 
without  fomewhat  ;  they  have  forfaken  the  Lord,  and  they 
would  have  fomewhat  inftead  of  God  ;  they  have  digged 
to  themf  elves  broken  ciflerns,  that  will  hold  no  water.  And 
how  many  in  this  age  have  committed  thefe  two  great 
evils  ! 

My  friends,  examine  yourfelves  j  are  there  not  many  that 
have  been  guilty  of  thefe  two  great  evils  ?  They  do  not 
keep  their  clofe  dependence,  truft  and  reliance,  upon  the 
invifible  power  of  God,  as  they  profefs  they  ought  to  do, 
but  are  hurried  away  from  it  ;  iome  by  the  love  of  the 
world,  fome  by  lufts  and  pleafures,  fome  by  paflions,  aad 
others  by  worldly  interefts,  are  drawn  away  from  the  pow- 
er, to  do  and  fay  that  which  the  power  is  againft  :  Is 
not  this  a  forfaking  of  the  Lord  the  living  fountain  ?  What 
do  they  do  then  ?  Are  they  not  for  this  and  that,  and 
the  other  man  ?  for  hearing  this  and  the  other  man's  word^ 
and  digging  to  themfelves  broken  cijlerns  ?  And  have  they 
not  their  truft  and  confidence  in  going  to  meetings,  in 
commending  this  and  the  other  way  ?  Have  they  not  their 
truft  in  their  profeflion  outwardly,  when  it  minifters  no- 
thing to  their  fouls,    (o  that  they  fecretlv  wither  for   all 

H  h  "  this? 


z4^  The  Necessity  of  a  HoLy 

this  ?  If  you  had  all  the  men  and  angels  that  were  ever 
fent  of  God,  appointed  to  preach  to  you,  they  could  not 
rniniiler  life  to  you,  unlefs  there  be  that  faith  that  Pcands 
in  the  po\yer  of  God.  The  faith  that  ftands  in  any  man's 
words,  will  not  overcome  your  lufts  ;  but  the  faith  that 
frauds  in  the  power  of  God,  purifies  the  heart  ;  it  will 
not  fufFer  any  unclean  thing  there.  As  for  preaching,  let 
a.  man  preach  againfl  this  and  the  other  luft  and  corrup- 
tion, there  it  will  remain  for  all  his  preaching,  unlefs  men 
know  God's  power  and  life,  in  which  there  is  righteouf- 
nefs  j  for  words  and  knowledge,  and  fight  and  fpeculati- 
on,  will  never  give    people  victory  over  their  fins. 

Therefore  you  know,  every  one  who  is  fettled  muft  be 
fettled  where  the  foundation  of  religion  is  ;  it  is  not  com- 
ing tD  meetings,  and  owning  this  and  the  other  doctrine 
which  is  the  foundation  of  our  religion  ;  God  hath  re- 
vealed his  power  to  every  one  of  us  ;  God  hath  not  giv- 
en his  Spirit  to  preachers  and  prophets  only,  for  then  there 
would  be  a  fa?nme  of  the  ivord,  as  was  in  Ifrae/,  the  jpriefl's 
lips  O'rtly  prcTer-jecl  knoivledge.  If  you  did  take  away  the 
pried:,  you  did  take  away  their  knowledge.  The  prophets 
had  the  word  of  God,  and  they  only  (pake  the  word  of 
God.  If  the  prophet  was  taken  away,  then  the  word  of 
God  was  taken  away.  The  Lord  threatened  to  fend  a 
famine  among  them  ;  they  grieved  and  vexed,  and  killed 
and  deuroyed,  the  priefls  and  prophets  ;  therefore,  faith 
the  Lord,  I  vcill  fend  a  famt'ne  amohg  youy  not  of  bread, 
hut  of  the  ivord  ;  and  they  fiall  go  jrom  city  to  city,  and 
enquire  for    the   word   of  the  Lord. 

Thus  it  was  in  the  Jeuiih  church  ',  if  there  was  a  pro- 
phet they  would  go  thirtv,  forty,  or  a  hundred  miles  to 
Lira  that  had  the  word  of  the  Lord  ',  they  fiall  go  from 
city  to  city,  to  e?/quire  for  the  word  of  the  Lord :  But 
hleiTed  be  God  we  are  com.e  to  another  day,  for  now 
the  word  of  the  Lord  is  manifefted  in  the  hearts  of  all 
that  believe ;  they  know  the  word  :  I  do  not  fay  all  that 
believe  do  preach  the  v/ord,  or  ought  to  preach  j  bat  the 
Word  preacheth  to  them^ ;  they  are  not  as  broken  ciflerns 
that  can  hold  no  water  ',  when  they  find  the  word  and 
hear  it,    they   fpeak  it   prefently  ',    \\'hat  is   miniflered    to 

their 


Life  and  Conversation.  24^ 

their  own  condition,  that  they  tell  to  other  folks  ',  when 
people  come  to  the  blefiing  of  this  difpenfation  that  God's 
word  revealeth  in  their  hearts,  they  then  know  what  the 
fignification  of  it  is,  they  underftand  the  dodrine  of  it, 
the  dodrine  preacheth  holinefs  to  them  ;  not  that  they 
fhould  preach  holinefs  and  yet  remain  unholy  ;  not  that 
they  fhould  preach  humility,  and  yet  remain  proud  :  it 
preacheth  holinefs,  humility  and  finglenefs  of  heart  to  a 
remnant,  that  like  good  fcholars  and  difciples  learn  the 
lefions  and  doctrine  of  the  word  of  God. 

Now  when  thou  haft  learned  them  well,  and  art  come 
to  fee  the  effect  of  the  word,  and  dofl  bring  forth  the 
deeds  and  works  which  are  the  fruits  of  holinefs,  perfecling 
holinefs  in  ihe  fear  of  God,  and  with,  humility  known 
and  witneffed  in  Chrift  Jefus,  and  art  not  only  meek  in 
fhow^  but  meek  and  low  in  heart ;  when  people  come  to 
be  meek  and  lowly,  and  of  a  clear  confcience,  purged  frojn 
all  dead  works  to  ferve  the  living  God;  then  if  the  Lord 
gives  them  a  word  of  exhortation,  of  dodrine  or  counfel, 
it  is  very  welcome,  and  it  hath  a  favour  through  the  blefUng 
of  God,  and  they  come  by  it  to  be  built  up  in  their  mofi 
holy  faith,  and  this  word  is  brought  forth  in  holinefs  and 
righteoufnefs  in  their  lives,  and  lliews  itfelf  in  a  life  of 
holinefs  j  then  thou  wilt  fhine  in  thy  converfation  to  all 
that  thou  converfeft  with,  fo  that  they  may  fee  thee  to  be 
fuch  a  man  or  woman  as  haft  been  with  Jefus,  and  learned 
of  Jefus,  and  received  a  word  engrafted;  v/hen  thou  doft 
receive  the  word  into  thy  heart,  there  is  the  engrafting  of 
it  :  If  it  hath  not  root  there,  then,  faith  Chrift,  my  word 
doth  not  abide  in  you.  If  you  feel  fomething  of  thi$  invifible 
word  in  your  hearts,  it  brings  you  to  a  relolution  to  ferve 
God,  and  to  keep  yourfelves  from  ftn,  and  to  anfwer  the 
profefTion  which  you  make  of  God  ;  this  is  the  effed  of 
the  word  of  God,  if  it  doth  abide  in  you.  Doth  it  abide  ? 
You  fhall  know  anon  or  to  morrow,  fo  foon  as  a  temptation 
comes  to  ftir  you  up  to  pride  or  pafllon,  to  fraud  or  deceit, 
then  you  will  fee  whether  the  v/ord  abide  ;  If  it  abide, 
you  iln    not. 

This  is  fcripture,  a  certain  fundamental  doctrine,  that  may 
be  as  fafely  preached  as  any  doctrine  :  If  the  word  abide 

in 


244  ^^^  Necessity  of  a  Holy 

in  you,  you  fin  not  ;  what  of  that  ?  let  the  word  go, 
and  you  will  fin,  when  ever  you  are  tempted  to  it.  i 
write  to  you  young  men,  becaufe  you  have  overcome  the 
ruickcd  oney  you  are  Jircng,  and  the  word  of  God  abides 
in  you,  and  you  have  overcome  the  wicked  one.  'Wq  Ihall 
fee  as  foon  as  a  temptation  meets  with  thee,  whether  the 
word  abides  in  thee;  if  it  abide,  thou  wilt  not  fin,  but 
refill:  the  tempter.  Set  thy  foot  upon  the  temptation, 
and  go  over  it,  and  thou  wilt  have  the  dominion  ;  and 
this  will  make  thee  a  free  man  or  woman,  and  thou  wilt 
Jtand  fafl  in  the  liberty  wherewith  Chrift  hath  made  thee 
free.  The  apoftle  fuppofeth  them  free,  and  that  they  have 
got  dominion  ,  then  Jtand  fafl,  faith  he,  in  the  liberty  where- 
with Chrift  hath  made  thee  free.  It  is  a  liberty  not  of 
luft  and  fin,  but  a  liberty  of  the  foul  ;  the  foul  now  is 
not  at  the  devil's   will  and  call. 

For  it  is  a  fname  to  the  dodrine  of  Chridianity,  that 
we  profefs  things,  and  yet  deny  them  in  pradice  :  We 
profefs  that  there  is  a  power  in  Chrift  to  keep  and  preferve 
us  out  of  fin,  and  we  profefs  to  believe  this  power  is  com^ 
municated  to  them  that  do  believe  in  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift 
for  their  prefervation  ;  that  is,  he  will  not  withhold  it  from 
them  :  We  profefs  thefe  things  in  the  face  of  the  whole 
world;  and  yet  when  the  devil  calls  one  man  to  covetouf-* 
nefs,  and  another  to  defraud  his  neighbour,  and  another  to 
defile  himfelf,  he  is  drawn  away  thereby  ;  what  h}  pocrify 
is  here  to  profefs  this,  and  ad  the  contrary  ?  I  do  not  wonder 
that  they  that  profefs  they  cannot  live  a  day  without  fin, 
that  they  fhould  fall ;  but  they  that  profefs  to  befieve  there 
is  power  enough  in  Chrift,  and  that  it  is  ofiered  to  them, 
to  live  in  fin  and  yield  to  temptation,  this  is  horrid 
wickednefs.  They  that  are  of  an  upright,  fingle  mjnd, 
would  die  before  they  v/ould  ^\x\,  knowing  that  God  is  Al- 
mighty, and  gracious,  and  willing  to  bcftoY/  his  power,  and 
Wiidom,  and  grace,  upon  them  that  ask  it;  they  would 
die  rather  than  fin  againit  God  prefumptuoufly  :  let  it  coft 
me  my  goods,  mv  eftate,  my  liberty,  or  my  life,  how  can 
I  do  this  great  wickednefs  J  and  fm  againfl  God?  They  love 
God  above  all  ;  you  never  heard  them  complain  that  they 
W^anted  power,  for  the  Lord  is  at  their  right  hand,   and  they 

fhall-^ 


Life  and  Conversatioij,  ^4g 

Jkall  not  he  moved.  They  cannot  fall ;  though  they  are  temp-r 
ted,  they  will  not  fall  into  temptation.  They  have  power 
when  they  fee  the  devil  before  them,  to  put  him  behind 
them  ;  the  nobility  of  their  extrad,  of  their  new  birth  and 
regeneration,  puts  fuch  a  temper  and  difpofition  into  their 
fouls,  that  ihey  fcorn  to  be  at  the  devil's  command,  as  if  they 
were  his  children. 

Oh!  it  is  a  noble  and  honourable  thing  to  be  a  child  of 
God,  a  very  high  digaity  to  be  in  fuch  an  honourable  re- 
lation to  God,  and  to  have  a  right  to  the  heavenly  manfions, 
to  fit  down  in  bsavenly  places  in  CJp-ift  Jefus,  I  would  to 
God  you  were  all  ready  for  it,  that  you  had  the  wedding 
garment  on,  that  vou  might  not  be  boiuid  hand  and  foot ^  and 
cafl  into  utter  darknefs.  X^^hat  is  the  reafon  that  you  do 
not  fit  down  in  this  heavenly  frame  and  tem.per,  and  draw 
the  waters  of  falvation  out  of  your  own  fouls;  could  the 
Lord  do  any  thing  more  than  he  hath  done,  and  could  his 
fervants  do  any  more  than  thev  have  done  for  your  help  ? 
Are  not  their  labours  demonftrations  of  it  ?  "^^e  have  been 
cs  epifiUs  of  Chrijl  written  in  your  xonfclenceu  We  have 
been  teftifying  that  there  is  lomething  wanting  in  too  ma- 
ny, the  want  of  refigning  up  themfelves  to  the  baptifm 
of  the  crofs.  People  are  willing  to  be  counted  friends;  but 
they  are  friends  of  God,  that  do  wkatfoever  he  comrnandeth 
them  ;  that  is  the  Chriftian  leffon,  not  to  fay,  I  will  be  a 
friend  to  you,  and  a  friend  to  the  church,  and  to  fuch  a  fort 
of  people ;  but  I  will  be  a  friend  of  God,  and  do  what- 
foever  he  commandeth  me ;  whatfoever  command  God  lays 
upon  you,  either  to  take  up  a  crofs,  or  to  deny  yqurfelves 
and  follow  him. 

Learn  this  leffon,  and  you  will  be  difciples  indeed,  and 
members  of  the  church  too;  not  members  of  a  church  privi- 
leged outwardly  only,  but  members  of  a  church  of  the  firji 
born^  and  yen  will  ha'-ce  your  names  written  i7t  Heaven  i 
when  one  comes  to  have  his  name  written  in  Heaven,  he 
comes  to  know  his  name,  it  is  a  white  Stone^  not  a  fpeckled 
one  ,•  they  that  have  it,  they  know  it,  they  are  not  ignorant 
of  one  another's  names,  that  are  written  in  this  book  ;  they 
have  a  fellowlliip  that  nobody  can  declare ;  their  commu- 
nion is  in  that  bread  and  that  cup :  This  is  a  cup  of  blef- 

fmg 


1/fS  The  Necessity  of  a  Holy 

fing  indeed,  and  this  hath  bleffed  us,  and  will  blefs  us.  God 
V/ill  preferve  a  people  in  this  fellowlliip.  You  that  are  at  a 
diftance  now,  you  muft  come  nearer  to  him  j  God  will 
choose  a  people  by  whom  his  name  fnall  be  magnified ;  be- 
caufe  the  love  of  God  is  flied  abroad  in  our  hearts.  We  cannot 
but  defire  this  for  all,  efpeciaJly  for  the  houficld  of  faith  ; 
we  cannot  but  defire  their  perfection,  their  growing  up  in 
the  grace  of  God,  that  they  might  come  to  be  partakers  of 
Heaven.  And  in  the  next  place,  our  love  is  to  all  people, 
everywhere;  v/e  would  be  glad  that  all  ivere  faved ;  they 
that  def^pife  us,  when  we  are  ipeaking  of  heavenly  things, 
fpeaking  like  a  child,  like  a  ilammering  child,  fpeaking  of  the 
glorious  excellencies  of  God,  of  the  loving  kindnefs  of  God, 
fpeaking  of  thofe  things  which  God  hath  fpoken  to  our 
fouls,  they  that  defpife  thefe  things,  v/e  would  be  glad  that 
they  might  be  faved  :  If  they  were  partakers  of  thefe  things, 
they  would  be  glad  as  well  as  we,  and  they  would  be  more 
really  happy  in  re;  ped  of  this  world,  for  the  time  that  they 
are  to  live  here;  they  would  live  a  happier  life,  even  in  this 
world,  and  they  would  have  everlafting  life  i'ri  the  world  to 
cowe. 

The  love  of  Chrift  conftrains  men  thus  to  judge,  that 
every  one  that  hath  received  like  precious  faith,  ought  to 
anf\Y/er  that  grace  and  faith  which  God  hath  miniftered  to 
them  in  a  Jioly  life  and  converfation,  and  every  one  who 
is  a  ftranger  to  this  thing,  ought  to  be  of  an  enquiring 
mind,  and  an  open  heart,  to  wait  for  the  day  when  God 
will  vifit  them  with  the  fame  grace ;  when  you  give  up 
yourfelves  to  a  daily  crofs,  as  Chrift's  difciples,  you  will 
not  be  running  after  any  one  to  teach  you  to  know  the 
Lord,  for  you  will  all  know  the  Lord,  from  the  haft  to  the 
great-eft  ;  I  that  have  been  but  a  little  convinced,  fhall  I 
knov/  the  Lord  ?  Thou  fnalt  know  the  Lord,  thou  that 
art  dead  in  thy  fins  and  trefpaj]}s,  thou  that  haft  not  known, 
the  blood  of  clecnfing,  thou  (halt  know  the  herd  to  be  thy 
judge,  and  thy  law-giver,  to  teach  thee  how  thou  muft  live, 
walk  and  aft ;  and  is  not  that  a  good  knowledge  ?  This  is 
the  way  they  reckoned  upon  in  old  time,  it  is  a  notable 
expreffion,  the  Lord  is  our  judge  ;  there  is  the  beginning, 
he  began  there,  judgment  began  at  the  hcufe  of  God  ,*  thofe 

he 


Life  a?2d  CcjsrvERSATioi^.  2^y 

tic  brings  into  his  houfe,  he  brings  them  under  the  difci- 
pline  of  his  houfe,  the  Lord  is  our  judgCy  he  is  our  king 
and  law-givery  and  he  will  fave  us',  this  fame  exercife  of 
difciphne  under  judgm.ent  brought  to  them  the  faith  and 
experience  of  his  being  their  law-giver,  and  this  brought 
them  to  a  faith  of  the  lafl:  fentence,  we  fhall  be  iaved  ; 
and  the  Lord  anfwers  fuch  a  people,*  that  he  will  bring 
falvation  to  them,  fahation  fhall  be  for  walls  and  bulwarks  ; 
Did  the  people  of  this  nation  but  know  falv^ation  was 
brought  near  to  them,  and  that  it  was  their  bulwark,  there 
would  not  be  a  crying  up  this  and  the  other  rotten  thing 
for  a  bulwark. 

We  talk  of  a  bulwark  as  well  as  others  ;  we  have  a 
bulwark,  blefled  be  the  God  of  Heaven^  made  of  better 
fluff  than  theirs ;  for  it  is  the  falvation  of  God  v/hich  hath 
kept  us  from  the  pollution  of  fm,  and  from  a  running  mto 
all  excefs  and  riot  that  others  have  run  into ;  it  hath  kept 
us  from  the  evil,  it  hath  kept  evils  out  of  us,  and  we  have 
found  that  certainly  true,  that  all  things  work  together  for 
goody  to  them  that  love  God,  and  fear  God ;  that  all  the 
providences  of  God  together,  have  all  wrought  for  our 
good ;  and  this  is  the  bulwark  that  we  have  trufted  in,  and 
it  hath  ferved  hitherto,  and  it  will  ferve  us  and  our  pofterity 
to  the  end  of  the  world  :  This  is  a  bulwark  that  will 
never  be  ftorm.ed,  that  will  never  be  thrown  down  nor 
laid  wafte  :  Though  all  the  powers  on  earth,  and  all  the 
potentates  in  this  world  (hould  agree  together,  they  fhall  not 
prevail  againfl  it ;  we  hdNQ  falvation  for  walls  and  bulivarks  • 
if  I -be  within  thefe  walls,  falvation  is  round  about  me  ; 
if  I  am  got  into  this  eternal  bulwark,  I  am  fafe  from  the 
devil  and  his  inflruments ;  here  is  a  bulwark  to  be  re- 
lied upon. 

Many  wonder  we  differ  with  them  in  fomc  opinions ; 
we  have  that  confidence  in  this  bulwark,  that  we  defire 
not  another  ;  God  will  laft  and  abide  forever,  fo  will 
this  bulwark ;  all  the  care  that  I  take,  and  all  the  care  that 
you  fhould  take,  is  to  keep  within  thefe  walls  :  Do  not 
fally  out,  if  you  go  out,  the  devil  i?  watching,  2ind  feeking 
continually  whom  he  may  devour  ;  he  will  catch  flraglers  ;  if 
people  will  go  out  for   profit,     or  for   pleafure,    or    in- 

terefl, 


s/fS  The  Necessity  of  a  Holy 

tereft,  the  devil  will  catch  them ;  how  can  fuch  people  talk 
of  falvation  for  wails  and  bulwarks  ?  the  devil  hath  got 
them  in  his  fnare,  and  they  are  caught  in  drunkennefs,  un- 
cleannefs  and  other  fins ;  the  rea(on  is,  they  have  gone  out 
of  their  bulwark,  they  have  Tallied  out  of  their  walls,  for 
the  devil  could  never  have   forced  them   out. 

0  take  heedy  fays  the  apostle,  hft  there  fpring  up  in 
any  of  you  an  evil  heart  of  imhe^iefy  in  departing  from  the 
living  God ;  as  if  he  had  faid,  you  are  Chriftians  now, 
you  are  a  people  come  to  a  goo  J  ftate  in  Chrift  j  but 
Confider  you  have  no  ftrength  to  viand  but  in  him  j  no 
power  to  keep  yourfelves  but  in  him  ;  take  hted,  at  all 
times,  that  there  fpring  not  up  in  you  an  evil  heart  of  un^ 
belief y  in  departing  from  the  livlvg  God  ;  take  heed  left 
there  fpring  up  in  you  fuch  a  thought  as  this  j  I  may 
take  this  pleafure,  and  the  other  profit  ;  confider  that  thou 
dieft  and  withereft  if  thou  depart  from  the  living  God  ; 
take  heed  of  taking  liberty  above  the  fear  of  God  :  It 
is  not  our  talk  of  falvation  for  walls  and  bulwarks,  that 
will  do  us   good,  but   our  keeping   within    thefe  walls. 

1  remember  a  notable  faying  of  the  apoftle,  which  hath 
a  great  emphafis  in  it,  and  a  great  deal  of  dodrine  ,  he 
writeth  to  the  church,  after  they  were  become  a  peopk 
of  profeffing  Chriftians,  take  heed  left  you  come  to  be  be^ 
glided  by  the  ferpent,  as  he  beguiled  Eve  ;  he  did  not 
fpeak  of  Jezabel,  a  wicked  woman  ;  but  he  fpoke  of  Eve^ 
a  good  woman,  created  after  the  image  of  God,  in  righ* 
teoufnefs  and  hoUnefs  ;  they  were  come  to  a  life  of  fanc- 
tification,  to  a  life  that  was  hidden  fro?n  ages  and  g^^ne- 
rations.  You  muft  look  to  yourfelves,  and  look  upon  your-- 
felves  as  in  the  ftate  of  your  mother  Eve,  a  woman  brought 
forth  in  righteoufnefs  and  holinefs,  that  might  have  ftood 
in  that  primitive  ftate,  notwithftanding  all  the  fubtilty 
of  all  the  ferpents  in  the  world  ,*  but  having  hearkened 
to  this  old  ferpent,  ftie  was  beguiled  j  there  greW  up  a 
confultation  in  her  reafoning  part  ;  it  may  be  fo  as  he 
faith,  I  will  try. 

So  I  lay  to  you  that  are  come  to  a  ftate  of  fandifica- 
tion,  and  in  fome  meafure  to  know  the  cleanfing  power 
©f  God,    that  you  have   not   believed  in  it  in   vain,    but 

it 


Life  and  Conversation'.  249 

it  hath  efFeftually  wrought  fome  change  and  alteration  in 
you,  and  is  ftill  carrying  on  the  work  of  your  falvation. 
Many  temptations  will  attend  you,  and  many  fnares  will 
be  laid  in  your  way  ;  but  God  hath  preierved  you  to 
this  day  :  I  know  the  devil's  wiles  and  temptations  are 
manifold  ;  they  are  fitted  to  every  one's  inclinations,  fit- 
ted to  every  opportunity,  and  to  every  occafion  in  this 
world  :  Men  are  tried  every  way  by  the  tempter,  to  fee 
which  way  he  may  enfnare  ♦■hem  ;  he  tries  every  \v'ay  to 
enf?iare  and  entangle  the  /Imple,  that  he  may  turn  them  to 
the  right  hand  or  to  the  left,  that  their  fouls  may  be  deftroyed 
and  perilh. 

I  cannot  fpeak  to  you  by  a  more  emphatical  word,  by  a 
more  familiar  exhortation  than  this,  take  heed  ycu  be  not  be- 
guiled as  Eve  luas  :  Many  will  be  tempted  as  fhe  was,  but 
I  would  not  have  you  do  as  Ihe  did,  and  yield  to  the  temp- 
tation :  Take  heed  that  you  do  not  defile  yourfelves,  but 
keep  your  garments  iihite  ;  you  that  have  been  wafhed  and 
cleanfed,  labour  to  keep  yourfelves  uiifpotted  frcm  the  vcorld  ; 
this  is  pure  religion  and  undejiled,  that  which  hath  enlight- 
ened many  a  nation,  and  (hall  enlighten  many  of  thoie  whofe 
religion  is  to  be  undefiled,  and  to  keep  thenifclves  unfpotted 
from  the  world,  I  pray  God  encrea^'e  the  number  of  them, 
that  fo  the  blefTed  work  of  landification  that  hath  begun 
in  this  way,  may  be  carried  on  to  his  praife,  and  the  falva- 
tion of  our  fouls,  to  the  fpreading  forth  of  his  glory,  and 
the  exalting  of  his  name  j  that  the  ftrangcrs  which  are  fcat- 
tered  and  defolate,  may  be  brought  into  his  holy  way,  and 
walk  in  it;  that  we  all,  in  a  fellowfhip  together,  walking 
in  that  holy  way,  may  through  the  eternal  Spirit,  offer 
praiie  and  thankfgiving  to  God,  who  is  worthy  to  receive 
glory  and  honour^  power  and  dominion,  forever  and  ever. 
Amen, 


SERMON 


S  E  R  M  O  N     XXIL 

Baptism  and  the  Lord's  Supper 
a/ferted. 

'Preached  at  GrACE-ChuRCH-StrEET,  April  15',  1688, 

If  any  ma7i  hath  not  the  Spirit  of  Chrifly  he  is  none 
of  his. 

JF  I  fhould  fay  no  more,  there  is  that  In  every  one's 
conlcience  that  will  make  application  ',  if  he  that  hath 
not  the  Spirit  of  Chrift,  is  none  of  his,  you  may 
fay,  v/Lore  is  he  then  ?  If  they  be  none  of  Chrift's  that 
have  not  his  Spirit,  >x'ho^e  are  they  ?  They  are  all  his 
V/hofe  Spirit  rules  them,  every  one  of  us  doth  belong  to 
Lim  who  e  Spirit  ruleth  over  us,  unto  whole  power  we 
are  fubjeded.  You  knov/  this  diflinguifheth  people  in  the 
world,  one  king  knoweth  his  fubjeds  from  another  king's 
fubjeds ;  they  are  under  the  obedience  of  this,  that,  and 
the  other  king  or  prince,  his  law  is  over  them,  they  are 
fubjecl  to  it;  lo  here  is  a  decifion  of  all  the  people  in 
the  world,  whom  they  belong  to. 

\^e,  all  of  us,  I  hope,  do  exped  there  will  be  a  de- 
cifion at  the  day  of  judgment,  and  believe  the  things  wc 
read  concerning  it,  that  there  will  be  a  decifion,  and  fome 
will  be  placed  on  the  right  hand,  and  fome  on  the  left  j 
fbme  will  have  the  fentence  of,  come  ye  Mejfed,  and  others 
the  fentence  of,  go  ye  cur  fed  ;  but  now  there  is  a  way 
of  finding  out  the  decifion  of  the  matter  before  we  go 
out  of  the  world,  before  the  day  of  judgment,  when  there 
will  be  no  remedy,  what  then  is,  muft  be  and  abide  fo; 
now  there  is  no  need  it  fhould  continue  fo  ;  if  it  be 
amil^,  it  may  be  mended  ;  if  I  do  not  belong  to  the  right 
prince,  if  I  be  not  under  the  right  power  and  fpirit,  I 
may  be,  for  now  it  is  a  day  of  grace,  a  day  of  mercy ; 
I  have  been  a  rebel  to  the  right  prince,  I  may  be  par- 
doned and  taken   into   favour  j  it  is  far   better  for  people 

to 


Baptism  and  the  Lord*s   Supper,  2^1 

to  know  their  ftate   now,  than  to   know  it  then,  -becaufe 
then  there  will   be  no  remedy. 

The  apoftle,  in  laying  down  fundamental,  apoftolical 
doclrines,  that  were  to  be  believed  and  taken  notice  of, 
and  are  in  our  age,  fo  that  we  may  lay,  tfungs  written 
of  old  time,  were  written  for  our  learning  ;  he  makes  this 
affirmation  and  polition  of  do(5lrine,  he  that  hath  not  the 
Spirit  of  Chrijly  is  none  of  his,  he  doth  not  belong  to 
him  ;  tho'  he  be  called  a  Chriftian,  he  is  not  a  Chriftian, 
if  he  hath  not  the  Spirit  of  Chrift  j  it  is  but  a  name  he 
hath  got,  he  hath  not  that  which  makes  him  efientially 
fo,  for  nothing  can  make  a  Chriftian,  but  having  the  Spi- 
rit of  Chrift  J  therefore  when  they  would  vindicate  their 
being  Chriftians,  they  prove  it  thus  ;  for  he  (fpeaking  of 
God)  hath  fent  the  Spirit  of  his  Son  into  our  hearts,  and 
we  know  the  mind  of  Chrift  ;  we  know  him  that  is  truey 
or  we  are  in  him  that  is  true  ;  thefe  things,  if  they  were 
right,  if  they  were  true,  were  evident  demonftrations  that 
they  were  a  fort  of  men  who  depended  more  upon  the 
Spirit  and  fpiritual  teachings,  and  Ipiritual  guidance,  than 
upon  all  the  rules  and  methods  of  teaching  that  were 
in  the  world. 

I  fpeak  of  this,  friends,  becaufe  you  know  as  well  as 
I,  hov/  averfe  this  age  of  ours  hath  been,  to  have  any  thing 
fpoken  of  fpiritual  difpenfations,  or  about  fpiritual  teach- 
ings J  though  a  man  hath  been  counted  formerly  a  wife 
man,  a  learned  man,  or  a  man  of  parts,  if  once  he  come  to 
fmatter  out  a  little  about  inward  teaching,  it  is  enough  to 
fpot  him,  and  make  him  ridiculed  of  his  acquaintance,  as 
if  there  v/ere  no  fuch  thing  in  the  world  :  Wq  have  a 
book,  called  the  bible,  it  is  from  one  end  to  the  other 
full  of  fuch  expreftions,  of  being  led  by  the  Spirit  ',  you 
have  an  anointing  which  teacheth  you  all  things  :  The  whole 
tenor  of  the  New  Teftament  is  about  fpiritual  teachings 
and  divine  operations,  and  o£  faith  being  the  operation  of 
God  ;  and  the  Old  Teftament  hath  abundance  of  expreffions 
by  way  of  prophecy,  that  in  the  New  Teftament  days,  if 
people  would  look  for  the  law  of  God,  they  muft  look 
for  it  in  their  hearts  ;  and  if  they  would  know  God,  they 
muft  look  to   the  Mediator^    the  Lord  Jefus   Chrift:    The 

New 


7.^2  Baptism  and  the 

New  Teflament  alio  directs  us  that  way  ',  Chriftians  (houlj 
be  the  moft  fpiritual  people  in  the  world,  that  is  the 
guide,  the  rule. 

But,  fay  they,  the  fcripture  is  the  foundation  of  faith  and 
manners,  belief  and  pradice;  this  is  too  often  but  dilTimulation, 
and  I  am  afraid  it  is  to  be  found  in  fome  ;  what,  is  the  fcripture 
the  rule  of  faith  ?  and  may  people  believe  what  they  find  in 
fcripture  ?  Yes,  but  fay  fome,  it  is  beft  be  aware  for  fear  of 
error.  "V^hat  is  in  the  fcripture  is  ferious,  found  and  ortho- 
dox, and  did  Quakers,  think  you,  never  find  in  fcripture  that 
people  were  to  u^ait  for  the  Spirit,  and  pray  in  the  Spirit y 
and  ferve  God  in  the  Spirit,  and  that  all  religion  that  is 
not  in  power,  is  not  available,  did  they  not  find  it  in  fcrip- 
ture ?  And  you  that  are  not  Quakers,  did  you  ever  read  the 
New  Teftament  ?  How  came  it  to  pafs  that  ye  never  found 
theie  texts  ?  But  fome  people  read  and  read  the  New  Tef- 
tament  twenty  times  over,  and  mock  and  deride,  and  perfe- 
cute  a  man  that  (hall  foeak  o£  the  Spirit's  tcachinj?. 

I  have  admired  at  it,  how  intclhgent  men,  to  whom  God 
hath  given  a  com.petent  underftanding,  iLould  be  fo  blinded ; 
they  have  learned  to  read  Englifh,  and  they  have  read  the 
New  Tcdament  over  feveral  times,  and  the  Old  Teftament 
too,  and  they  have  read  thofe  fcntences  of  Chrift's  dodrine, 
that  do  fo  currently  and  unanimouily  fpeak  of  divine  teach- 
ings and  fpiritual  operations,  fpiritual  v/orfhip  and  fpirituai 
religion,  that  mufc  have  fome  motion  and  ftirring  of  the  Holy 
Ghoft  to  be  the  original  of  it,  and  that  all  others  are  not  ac- 
ceptable to  God ;  doubtlefs  they  have  read  thefe  things,  but 
I  have  often  defired  and  do  flill  dcfire  that  they  would 
read  it  again  once  more,  and  try  and  fee  what  God  will  do  ; 
he  hath  oftentimes  made  ufe  of  the  holy  fcripture  as  a  means 
to  awaken  people  and  to  open  their  underftandings,  and  let 
them  fee  the  mind  of  the  fpirit  by  which  the  fcripture  is 
written,  and  the  next  time  if  they  can  find  fcripture  text  and 
apoftolical  doclrine,  to  teach  people  to  wait  upon  the  Spirit, 
I  hope  they  will  leave  fcoffing  and  mocking. 

It  hath  been  hitherto  looked  upon  as  an  invention,  to  fpeak 

-   of  tlie  teaching  of  the  Spirit,  and  vjciitinQ'  upon  the   Spirit^ 

and  being  moved  by  the  Spirit.      This  apofiolical  dodrrine, 

prayer  and  worihip,  hath  been  looked  upon  as  an  invention 

that 


LoRD*s  Supper  ajferted.  2^j 

that  we  have  brought  in  :  To  look  for  the  Holy  Ghoft  in 
that  way  that  was  never  known  to  our  fathers,  is  a  fantaftical 
conceit  of  the  Quakers,  fay  they  :  To  tell  people  they  muft 
be  led  by  the  Spirit  in  divine  things,  as  in  prayer  and  wor— 
fhip,  and  the  Hke,  that  in  thefe  things  they  muft  wait  for 
the  Spirit,  was  there  ever  any  man  that  was  counted  good 
for  any  thing  that  ever  preached  lo,  before  they  came  I  Do 
we  read  any  fuch  kind  of  thing  in  fcripture  ? 

0  !  the  bUndnei^s  that  hath  happened  to  this  nation !  I 
have  confidered,  not  without  admiration,  how  the  devil  (he 
is  a  Spirit  too,  and  a  wicked  one)  how  he  fhould  have  pow- 
er to  prevent  our  acknowledging  the  belief,  fenfe  and  feeling 
of  the  Spirit  of  God  nov/-a-days ;  there  are  thoufands  in  this 
nation  that  have  formerly  believed  that  it  was  as  impofuble 
for  a  man  to  believe  the  divine  motions  and  ftrugglings  of 
the  Spirit  of  God  in  this  life,  as  to  raife  their  fathers  and 
mothers  out  of  their  graves  j  fome  of  their  learned  teachers 
have  told  us  it  is  a  whimfy  and  fancy,  and  that  there  was 
no  infpiration  of  the  Spirit  now-a-davs,  but  that  it  was  a 
fooiilli  fancy  in  us  to  wait  for  fuch  a  thing,  it  is  needlefs, 
fay  theyj  there  was  an  immediate  teaching  in  the  apoilles 
days,  and  they  had  the  fenfe  of  the  Spirit  of  Chrift  working 
in  them,  to  teach  them  to  write  letters  and  epiftles  to  the 
church,  which  letters  and  epiftles  were  written  by  the  moving 
of  the  Holy  Ghoft,  but  we  have  no  need  of  it  now,  the  Holy 
Ghoft  hath  brought  order  and  government  into  the  church, 
we  have  it  now  in  black  and  white  printed  in  our  books, 
therefore  fay  they,  there  is  no  need  of  the  Spirit,  and  peo- 
ple need  not  be  acquainted  with  the  operation  of  the  Spirit 
now-a-days,  in  regard  they  have  it  in  their  books  what  man- 
ner of  worftiip  they  muft  perform. 

1  grant  them  their  due,  that  they  have  the  diredion  of  the 
fcripture  ,'  I  am  able  to  underftand  that  people  are  to  wor- 
fhip  God,  and  pray  to  him,  and  are  to  meet  together  and  to 
obferve  this  and  the  other  dodrinal  precepts  there  laid  down  ; 
I  confefs  I  can  make  ftiift  herev/ith  to  frame  out  a  form  of 
religion,  and  if  I  do  not  miftake  in  the  opening  and  expli- 
cation of  the  dodrine,  I  could  make  a  right  form  too,  but 
I  am  liable  to  miftake,  another  man  that  underftands  Greek 
better  than  I,  faith  that  the  Greek  word  ought  to  be  tranflat- 

ed 


^54  Baptism  and  the 

ed  fo,  and  the  form  ought  to  differ  in  fuch  a  rerpe(ft ;  fome 
fay  the  only  way  of  government  is  by  bifhops,  and  the 
word  bears  it  in  the  original,  and  another  faith  he  hath 
ftretched  the  word,  for  the  word  means  prefbyter  j  another 
faith  prefbvter  fignifies  no  more  than  choice  of  church  elders 
and  deacons,  and  fuch  like,  and  this  is  all  out  of  one  book, 
the  fettlemcnt  of  bifhops,  prerbyters,  and  elders. 

Here  a  number  of  form-makers  all  fall  out  about  the  mean- 
ing of  the  word ;  what  remedy  can  any  mortal  man  provide 
for  this  ?  We  mufl:  not  be  killing  and  flaying  one  another 
about  words ;  if  I  be-  an  epifcopal  man  and  fay  the  word 
fignifies  bilhops,  I  may  be  a  wicked  man  ftill ;  and  if  another 
fay  it  mufl:  be  prefbyter,  he  may  be  a  wicked  man  too,  and 
if  another  fay  it  fhould  be  paftor,  elders,  and  deacons,  he 
may  be  a  wicked   man  notwithftanding. 

Thus  they  have  rent  and  torn  one  another  about  church 
government ;  what  remedy  (hall  we  have  for  this,  that 
thefe  quarrellings  and  contentions  about  terrns  and  words 
may  come  to  an  end  ?  Could  a  man  preQ:ribe  a  more  certain 
remedy  for  all  thefe  miftakes  than  this,  if  they  had  a  meafure 
of  this  Spirit  which  did  work  in  the  apoftles  when  they 
wrote  down  thefe  words,  which  the  apoflles  had  in  writing 
them.,  then  I  fay  they  could  tell  you  what  the  Spirit  meant, 
for  the  Spirit  is  the  fame  and  not  changed,  and  the  words  are 
the  fame  to  a  fmall  matter,  fo  that  if  a  man  had  that,  he 
might  end  all  the  controverfy ;  but  where  fhall  v/e  have  a 
man  that  hath  this  Spirit  to  end  the  controverfy  ?  There  is 
none  now-a-days  fay  the  Protefl:ants,  and  fay  the  Papifts 
there  is  none  but  one  that  hath  this  infallibility ;  and  many 
will  not  fuppofe  that  neither,  for  fome  of  them  fay,  that  one 
man  is  as  infallible  as  another  man  ;  there  is  a  great  difpute 
whether  any  one  man  be  infallible,  or  a  great  many  men  to- 
gether are  infallible  about  dodrine  and  worfhip  :  This  might 
be  cured  all  at  once  if  we  could  come  to  this  conclufion. 
Papifts,  Proteftants  and  Quakers,  here  is  an  end  of  all 
out-fide  worfhip,  he  that  hath  not  the  Spirit  of  Chrift  is  none 
of  his  :  If  there  be  not  Spirit  in  it,  it  is  not  Chrift's  religion 
and  worfhip. 

So  that  they  that  jangle  and  bark  and  bite,  are  without, 
among  dogs  and  forcerns,  that  are  ftrangers  to  the  Spirit  of 

Chriil  y 


Lord's  Supper  ajferted.  255' 

Chrift;  there  is  a  fpirit  in  them  that  denies  the  Spirit  of 
Chrifl:,  there  is  a  Spirit  that  rules  in  them  that  are  without 
the  Spirit,  for  nobody  that  I  know  of,  ads  things  without  a 
fpirit,  and  without  being  moved.  What,  are  good  and  bad 
all  moved  by  the  Spirit,  and  yet  are  there  no  motions  ?  I 
have  fometimes  turned  the  quefiion  upon  people,  and  asked 
them  if  there  were  no  motions  of  the  evil  fpirit,  hath  it  no 
fuch  kind  of  influence  that  it  can  m.ove  upon  our  fpirits, 
that  we  can  fenfibly  feel  ourfelves  thruO:  forth  to  fuch  an 
adion  ?  I  never  met  any  man  that  would  deny  it,  they  are 
fo  generally  favourable  to  the  wicked  fpirit ;  no  man  will 
deny  but  the  devil  hath  a  way  of  m.oving  and  ftirring  upon 
the  fpirit  of  a  man,  and  to  fuggeft  to  him  fuch  an  evil  thing, 
and  as  I  have  fometimes  faid,  it  is  fo  received  an  opinion, 
that  when  the  malefactor  comes  to  be  arraigned  at  the  bar  for 
fome  erievous  crime,  they  lay  the  foundation  of  the  indid- 
ment,  fuch  a  day  he  was  moved  and  inftigated  by  the  devil 
to  do  fuch  a  thing ;  here  is  a  fettled  motion  for  the  devil,  for 
him  to  influence  peoples  fpirits,  but  no  way  for  the  good 
Spirit  of  God  to  influence  mens  fpirits;  here  is  nothing  left 
us  but  a  bad  inftigation  ;  but  to  know  inward  motions  to 
good  things,  it  is  not  to  be  expeded  now-a-days. 

How  ihould  ever  the  cunning  ferpent,  that  would  have 
power  over  the  beft  of;  us  all,  be  faid  to  v/innow  us  ? 
Chrifl:  fignified  to  Peter]  a  bold  and  refolute  difciple,  fa- 
tan  defires  to  have  thee,  and  ivinnoiv  thee  as  vcheat  ;  if  the 
devil  had  pov/er  over  every  one,  to  m.ake  them  his  fer- 
vants  and  flaves,  what  remedy  have  we  but  we  mufl:  all 
perifh  and  go  headlong  to  hell  with  him,  unlefs  there  be 
fome  way  of  refifl:ing  him  ?  That  is  true,  fay  people,  the 
devil  mufl:  be  refifted  ;  we  find  it  in  the  New  Tcftament, 
reftjl  the  devil  ;  this  is  a  good  exercife  ;  but  tell  me  one 
thing,  when  I  go  about  to  reflfl:  the  devil,  mufl:  I  refifl: 
him  in  my  own  power  ?  If  I  was  to  fay  you  might  do 
fo,  you  would  fay  I  was  an  erroneous  preacher,  and  well 
you  might  :  This  is  an  old  free-will  dodrine,  that  a  man 
may  refifl:  the  devil  by  his  own  power,  and  efcape  his  fnares, 
and  do  the  will  of  Goil  :  This  hath  been  cried  down 
by  the  dodors  of  the  Church  of  England,  and  by  rnofl: 
of  ail  forts   of  Chrifl:ians  j    and  for  our  parts,    fince  the 

Lord 


2^^  BaptiS^vI  and  the 

Lord  hath  opened  our  mouths,  we  did  never  fpeak  a  word 
in  favour  of  it,  as  if  we  went  about  to  refift  the  devil  in 
our  own  ftrength  ;  if  we  did,  the  devil  would  make  fools 
of  us  :  He  that  goes  about  to  refift  the  devil  in  his  own 
ftrength,  will  be  entrapped  and  enfnaredby  him,  in  that  men 
have  a  propenfity  to  fin,  and  by  his  cunning  and  iubtilty, 
may  be  led  into  a  fnare   before  they  are   aware. 

Thus  it  is  agreed  on  all  hands,  that  our   pox^er,  as  men,   is 
too  weak  to   refift  fatan's  temptation,    fo  that  you   fee  we 
muft  have  the  aiuftance  of  the  divine  power,   or  all  go  to 
hcii  y    there   is    no   medium   between    thofe  two    extremes, 
fome  extraordinary  power  muft  aiTift  me,   or  elfe  the  devil 
will  have   me.     If  you   will  not  admit  of  a   fupernatural 
power  to  come  in  to  help  me  and   you,   we  muft   all    go 
to  hell,  there  is  no  remedy  :    I  will  fay  my  prayers,  faith 
one;  do  fo,  yet  in  the  beft  of  your  prayers  there  will  be 
fin  ;    and   if  I  regard   iniquity  i?i    my    hearty   the  Lord  ivill 
7iot  hear  me  :  I  will  go  and  hear   fermons,   fay    you  ;   the 
very   man    that    preacheth   will    tell   you,    that  hearing  of 
fermons  will  do  you  no  good  at  all,  unlefs  there  be  mo- 
tions of  the  Spirit  of  God,  fo  that  you  will  be  wrapt  from  one 
thing  to  another,  and  have  diverfity  of  dodrines,  and  come 
to   no    fixednefs  ;    and  v/hile  you  concern  yourfelves  about 
dodrines,  all  the  while  the  devil  prevails  upon  you ;  as  for 
the  tongue,  he  hath  the  rule  of  that,    and  as  for  the  hands, 
he  hath  the  rule  of  them,  and  makes  you  do  thofe  things 
that  by  his  perpetual   fuggeftions  he  moves  you  to  j   fo  that 
your  going  to  church  and  faying  your  prayers  lignify  nothing 
to  bring  you  from  under  the  wrath  of  God,  and  from  the 
captivity  of  the  devil :  Hath  not  the  devil  thofe  in  captivity 
that  go   to  church,   and  fay  their  prayers,   and  give  alms  ? 
Thefe  are  things  that   you  can   do   by   your  own    power, 
the  faying  of  your  prayers,  and  fafting,   and  giving  of  alms, 
thefe   things   thou    mayeft    do,    the  devil   will   not   hinder 
thee,   for  he  knows  that  thefe  will  not  bring   thee   out  of 
his   clutches,    nor  out  of  his  chains  and   fetters. 

There  is  but  one  way  and  means  by  which  the  devil 
may  be  effedually  refifted,  that  is  by  taking  to  our  help  one 
flronger  than  he;  I  have  gone  for  help  to  many  ftronger 
than  I,  in  my  young  days,  that  I  thought  to  be  ftronger 

Chriftians, 


Lord's  Supper  aprted.  2^y 

Chriftians,  and  many  of  them  did  afford  their  help  in  the 
work,  by  coimfel,  by  perfuafion,  by  exhortation  and  by 
dodrine,  but  all  this  did  not  do  ;  and  the  reafon  was  this, 
becaufe  the  devil  was  too  flrong  for  me,  and  fo  he  was  for 
them.  As  long  as  you  go  for  help  to  this  and  the  other 
place,  until  you  find  one  ftronger  than  the  devil,  expecft 
no  deliverance  or  help  from  any  thing  in  the  world,  but 
lay  afide  all  cnnjidence  in  the  flefli^  in  any  many  man  on 
earth,  or  in  all  the  doctors  words  and  beft  preaching  you 
fhall  hear,  lay  afide  your  confidence  in  them,  they  will 
never  do  you  any  good  in  this  refped:,  for  they  will  never 
break  your  chains  off  ',  many  are  loaded  with  them,  but 
fome,  I^  hope,  are  weary  and  hea'-jy  ladeUy  and  feel  the 
weight  of  fin,  I  pray  God  increafe.  the  number;  though  it 
be  a  ftate  of  forrow,  it  is  better  than  the  (late  of  fools,  that 
7nake  a  mock  of  fm  ;  I  would  have  you  weary  and  heavy 
laden  with  your  fins,  and  brought  into  this  ftate,  to  fee 
yourfelves  captivated  by  the  ftrong  power  of  darknefs, 
and  to  fee  you  are  unable  to  deliver  yourfelves  out  of  it 
by  your  own  power. 

For  me  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  a  tyrant  that  is  ftronger 
than  I,  and  no  man  to  deliver  me,  how  fad  would  it 
be.  If  I  could  find  a  man  ftronger  than  this  tyrant,  and  that 
would  kill  him,  I  fhould  be  his  fervant,  and  have  a  better 
mafter  :  No  man  can  kill  this  tyrant,  that  hath  led  me  captive 
and  made  me  a  flave;  if  he  fay,  be  drunk,  I  muft  be  drunk  ; 
if  he  bid  me  fwear,  I  muft  fwear :  This  is  the  ilavery  that 
the  devil  hath  got  his  fervants  into,  that  whatfoever  he  faith, 
that  they  muft  do,  if  he  bids  them  do  it:  0  1  ivretched  man 
that  lam,  who  fhall  deliver  me?  I  cannot  deliver  rnvfelf, 
and  no  man  can  deliver  me  j  I  would  be  acquainted  with  all 
Chriftians,  if  they  could  help  me  ;  I  would  try  all  religions 
that  are  this  day  in  the  world,  to  fee  if  there  be  help  for  me : 
Many  are  opprelTed  v/ith  fin,  and  they  go  to  and  fro,  to  fee 
what  help  can  be  given  them,  to  free  them  from  the  bondage 
that  the  devil  hath  them  in  :  This  fort  of  people  are  to  be 
pitied,  and  the  Ibuis  of  all  good  people  will  pity  them,  for 
fuch  as  thefe  feek  the  living  among  the  dead  ',  they  feek 
that  to  redeem  them  that  cannot  redeem  them  :  "V^e  have 
fought,  fay  they,  for  power  and  ftrengtji  from  them  that  had 

Kk         '  not 


p^8  Baptism  and  the. 

not  enough  for  themfelves,  they  wete  captivated  as  Well  a§ 
^c,  and  all  this  becaufe  we  came  not  to  him  that  is  ftronger 
than  the  devil.  You  will  take  the  fame  courfe,  and  flay  till 
grey  hairs  come,  and  you  go  down  to  the  grave  with  forrow, 
unlefs  you  come  to  oneftronger  than  the  devil,  and  then  truft 
in  him,  believe  in  him,  and  expert  deliverance  by  him.  The 
reafon  why  people  do  not  exped  deliverance  is_,  becaufe  thefe 
two  things  are  Ihut  out  of  their  belief. 

I.  Thev  believe  not  that  a  finful  hfe  will  carry  them 
to    deftruclion. 

II.  They  think  there  is  not  any  pofFibility  in  this  world 
to  live  any  other  than  a  finful  life. 

The  devil  hath  brought  men  to  this  pafs,  that  they  live 
As  eafily  in  a  finful  life,  as  a  fifh  in  the  flream  :  \>^e  are  in 
the  wav,  fay  they  ;  when  we  were  baptized,  we  were  initi- 
ated into  the  Chriftian  church,  we  Were  baptized  with  the 
lign  of  the  crofs,  that  fheWs  We  are  foldiers  of  Chrift  and 
bear  his  badge  and  banner  upon  us ;  and  the  man  faid  at 
that  time,  I  was  made  a  child  of  God  and  an  inheritor  of 
the  kingdom  of  Heaven  ;  if  this  be  not  true,  then  I  am 
cheated  and  deceived,  for  I  am  to  beUeve  this  to  be  true  ; 
the  church  hath  affirmed  that  thefe  things  are  to  be  be- 
lieved j  and  to  queftion  the  veracity  of  the  church,  is  to 
quefrion   ail. 

I  would  queilion  whether  thoufands  find  the  truth  of 
it.  When  thou  wert  baptized,  there  was  a  kind  of  co- 
venant and  bargain  made  for  this  child  of  God  and  heir 
of  eternal  life,  that  he  iliould  forsake  the  devil  and  all 
his  works,  and  the  pomps  and  vanities  of  this  wicked 
World,  and  the  finful  lufts  of  the  flelh  :  And  there  is  fe- 
curity  given  that  this  child  ihall  never  ferve  the  devil 
and  finful  lufts,  and  never  be  proud,  but  ferve  God  and 
keep  his  commandments  :  Now  this  fecurity  being  taken, 
then  thev  fuppofe  that  this  child  will  certainly  be  an 
heir  of  the  kingdom  of  God.  It  is  very  true,  fland  to 
thy  church  j  if  this  fecurity  that  is  taken  for  a  child  be 
but  cffe'flual,  then  there  is  no  doubt  of  being  a  child  of 
God,  and  an  inheritor  of  the  kingdom  of  Heaven.  But  if 
this  fecurity  fail,  is  the  church  to  blame  if  men's  hopes  to 
eternal  life  fail  \  ¥'as  v:  not  my  condition,  that  thou  fhouldell- 

forfake 


LoRD*s  Supper  affened,  v^^ 

devil  and  all  his  works,  and  the  pomps  and  vanities 
/  'icked  world,  and  the  finful  lufts  of  the  flefh,  and  if 

I  t%k  the  bargain,  and  thy  part  of  the  covenant,  and 

1  -^'eternal  life,  who  is  to  blame  ?  Look  to  the  fecurity, 

xiat  thou  forfake  the  devil  and  all  his  works,  and  the 
mps  and  vanities  of  the  world.     But  thou  mayeft  rath^ 
\  ay,  I  have  enjoyed  as  many  of  them  as  I  could  ;  and  for  tP^^g 
lufts  of  the  flefh,  I  have  enjoyed  as  much  of  them  as  I  ca;^  , 
and  what,  doft  thou  believe  thyfelf  to  be  a  child  of  Go;;^  ^^d 
an  heir  of  the  kingdom  of  Heaven,  notwithftandi-^g? 

If  I  promife  to  deliver  a  man  any  particular  kind  of 
goods,  upon  the  payment  of  fo  miich  Mnoney,  if  I  fail  in 
delivering  the  goods,  he  will  n'ot"  deliver  the  money ;  a  man 
muft  forfake  the  devil  and  all  his  works,  and  never  luft  after 
the  pomps  and  vanities  oi'  this  world ;  that  is  a  child  of 
God,  let  us  fee  him  gro^  up,  and  if  he  goes  on  to  be  faith- 
ful in  this  covenant  till^e  die,  I  do  not  at  all  queftion  but  he 
will  be  an  heir  of  etfynal  life  ;  but  when  all  this  is  broken, 
and  the  fecurity  lig'^ifies  nothing,  and  the  man  is  given  up 
to  ferve  the  devi',  breaks  all  God's  holy  laws,  erreth  and 
ftrayeth  from  the  way  of  God's  comm.andm.ents  like  a  loft 
fheep,  and  gra.ps  at  the  pomps  and  vanities  of  the  v/orld, 
as  much  as  he  can,  and  thinks  he  gets  no  more  than  comes 
to  his  fliar- ;  and  when  he  (hall  indulge  the  lufts  of  his  flefh, 
this  is  n  child  of  the  devil  j  he  is  a  child  of  that  Spirit  that 
wa?  a  liar  from  ths  beginning.  Never  talk  of  being  a  child 
and  an  heir  of  God's  kingdom,  fuch  a  m.an  is  in  fetters,  he  is 
to  go  along  with  the  devil  and  his  angels,  and  there  is  a  king- 
dom prepared  for  them,  and  a  kingdom  of  darknefs,  and 
he  muft  have  his  portion  with  them  in  everlafting  mifery : 
Tophet  is  prepared  of  old  for  all  the  workers  of  iniquity, 

What  for  thofe  that  are  baptized  ?  Yes,  but  do  not  you 
deny  baptifm  ? 

No,  not  I,  I  would  have  men  and  women  baptized  with 
a  baptifm  that  will  do  them  fome  good.  Some  have  feen 
the  vanity  and  weaknefs  of  this  kind  of  baptifm,  and  called 
ij'baby  baptifm  i  and  therefore  would  go  and  be  baptized  arid 
--plunged  in  the  water  over  head  and  ears,  but  they  came  up 
again  with  the  fame  heart  and  mind,  and  the  fame  polluted 
foul     John  baptized  in  Jordan,  and  all  Jsrvfalem  and  Judea 


cam< 


*'^<'  Baptism  and  the 

came  to  be  baptized  oi  mm  :    rhere  were  a  fort  cas  Well  as 

penons  then  that  crucified  the  Lord  Jefus  Chnft,   r.  ftronger 

dKijneni  harm  in  his  life,  but  much  good.  ftay  till 

Ihis  baptifm  had  never  an  apcfioTical  patron,  but  prrow, 

another  baptifm  that  is  To  infallible  a  baptifm,  that  if  atruft 

^uere  lurelv  baptized  withal,  he  was  fure  of  Heaven,  he  woAe 

.never  need  any  other  afTurance  of  Heaven  than  to  be  bap> 

tizt^d  with  the  baptifm  of  Jefus  Chrift :  The  lip  of  truth  fpe?ks 

or  L>ii,  lie  that  hdtoveth  and  is  baptked,  Jliail  he  faved  :   He 

Ihah  be  i.-ved  in  fpite  of  the  devil  and  all  his  temptations, 

in  ipite  of  pen  --cutions  and  the  ftumblino-blocks  laid  before 

h.m.     Here  is  a  h^^-^fn^woyth  a  man's  while,  worth  all  his 

labouis  if  he  could  obtain  ,t.   /,,  ,4^,  „,„^,,^  ^^^^^^  ^-^.^^ 

John  the  Baptift,  he  flail  bapt,z^  y^,  ,,,,,,.  .^,^  ^^^    ^^^^     ^^^ 

iv2tk  pre  ;  here  is  a  baptilm  bt],.r.cTc  tr»  ru.-;a;  ,. 

nance   ordained.     Far  be  it  from   „„  ^_  j^^,,  i       '-r        , 

,  ,  ,.  ,        01       .  ,       r      ^s  to  deny  baptifm  ;   but 
we  would  lii^ht  ot  the  rimit,   lince  ^l_„^  ^    *  r^  r 

r^,  .     ,        T^  •     r       •   T    ^      1  .^here  are  io  many  forts  : 

1  nis  baptilm  is  to   ridit  ana  certair     ^l^^   •       r    ^    . 

rV-     ri      •         •        •     •     J         •>   t^^^t  ^t  ascertains   a 
man   or  his  lalvation,    but  it  is  done   u.,  ,a.  u-  /    r-/   «       / 

vcttn    pre:     It    it    be     by   tne  Holy   Gi.,,n     ,i  ^  •     •     r 

u    rr  r  r     '1        •  ti  '  '^^^^^    ^^'C^   it  is   tar 

enough  orr  trom  usj   tor  there  is  no  Hoiv  v-^*     n  ■  , 

r      r  r     \'    1        -r     ■  r  i  ,'    ,:^nolt  in  our  davs,. 

lav  lome,  io  this  baptitm  is  ceaied,  and  inip-..    ■       ■         /  ^ 
ir\      TJT  1    r-t   n       i  c     T       1  rt      ation  IS  ceaied. 

it  the  Holy  G/i'Jt  and  fire  be  the  matter  of  oapl-r        l      i  • 
u  •        ^  -f  J         1         "•-  J      1  r  ^^"^j  the  thinff 

bein^  railed    and   ceaied,   tne   coniequencc  can.  '    r  n       ^ 
^1  J  T  '      1        •     J  1         V     1         •    '^t  follow  ; 

thou  and  i  cannot  be  baptized  becauie  there  is  ni,    ^    i  • 

of  the  Holy  Ghoft  in  our  days;  fav  fome,  this  bap..  ^  'P 
With  the  Holy  GJioft  and  with  jire  ;  with  fire  for  buriin.^ 
up  our  corruptions,  and  purifying  our  hearts.  -But  the  Holy 
Ghoft  hatli  done  working  upon  men,  fay  they  j  why  then 
there  is  an  end  of  baptifm :  A  man  is  hungry,  and  when  his 
tim.c  comes  to  eat,  he  hath  no  viciuals,  yet  he  fits  him.  down 
as  if  he  did  eat ;  will  this  feed  and  nouriili  him  ?  So  men  now- 
a-days,  they  have  a  baptifm  wherewith  they  are  baptized  ;  but 
baptilm  with  the  Holy  Ghoft  and  voith  fire,  is  the  right  bap- 
tilm, therefore  do  not  baptize  until  you  find  the  Holy  Ghoft, 
this  will  be  far  better;  this  is  the  baptifm  that  they  which 
come  to  know  it,  are  fi-irc  of  falvation  by  it  ;  for  by  tfcis 
\baptirm,  they  are  borne  up  and  tindured  in  their  fouls  with 
"he  Divine  Spirit  of  Chrift  Jefus,  proceeding  from  the  Father 
M  the  Son,  till  they  receive  his  iikeneis  and-fo  die  unto 

lin  : 

1  \ 


Lord's  Supper  afPrtecL  ^.or 

death,     TheV-^le  openeth  it,   ^n  that  he  ^-^/-^^  f/    ^ 
fin  .  nee,  but  ^n  :^  he  Uveth  he  h.eth  nntoGod,  f    hat  they 

that  ..Ire  bapt^L   -^^'^  ^'^''^'' r'%^^%lf:^Uo^^ 
you   that  are  dea^nto  fin,  ho.v  (liould  you  Ue  any  lo.g.i  , 

therem?  without  fm  ;.can  that  be 

The.e  that  ^^^rc  h^^\^^^^  ^^^  ^^,^  Chnft  only  ?    Yes,  . 
true    that  no  one  lived\~}^,^^  ^^.^,.,    .,^  J  ,/,,,  ,o 
faith    the  apoftle,  yo7i  that,\i^  J-     ^'    ^^^  now  that 
^.ghreouP^^fs  ;   their  Ufe  ftooct^^!^^  ^\      ,,;,l,,-e  to  Chrift, 
life  IS  taken  away  by  baptifm,  ^,^^^      -^j^  ^1,^^  comes  to  be 
and  he  that  hveth  he  iiveth  to  Qk,[  i^^   1^^^   ten,   twenty, 
partaker   of  the  firft  refurredion,   i,        Q^a    he' Iiveth  no 
forty,   or  a  hundred  years,  he  Mr    •c\h,-,.,vorld,    and   the 
more   in    the   pomps  and   vav '^  /      ,     r^-V^      This  bap- 
finfbl  lufts  of  d.e  i^elh,   but  1^''^  '"''\  ^^'v-^l    b     1^- 
tifm,  whoever  comes  lo  be  [^^^^^^^^^  ^^'  ^^^  .f 

ed;   fo   that   we  do  not  d^^n^J        \      j      -  K^Lioper. 

P,,f.   .vr^    !  r  1  -^  denv    the    Lor.   -  O^t  A^r*-. 

-but  we   iiear    lav,    tnat    vol  i     'V^    j  i  X     v--^  is 

•  AY^V  Ko,.^    ^..r      u  "at    1       -S   Vht,  God  knows;  theic\,/^ 
V'  e  have  never  had  luch  a  tho?  i  t     i     L  - 

Mori.;;,rr  .u  .  r     ^     ^  rr   more  i  but  people  havi 

«otmng  that  our  iouls   long  afi  t    •  i        i  i   a 

Kr.Ao  rS^t.;^^      1  •    J      r         1      Vheir  own,  thev  have  lolt 
Deen  makme  a  kind  of  work  of>    i  •,  '  ^      *    i         i 

a  realitv,  and  make  fhado^s  i^'"''^'-^."  '*'^'  ^^  '*''^^" 
they  fee  things  made  in  the  hoK^°''  'i'""!,'"''  '^'^  ""r'^ 
n,ake  the  l.ke^in  l>.nd  and  clay  ^'"^1=  '^<"  ""'  "1  Te 
What  a  a-eat  thing  it  is  to  at^a\'  '"  V  ,'"??''  °^ 
T  r.",^  •  1^  ,!,;  ,„  &  '^  '^  1-u  '"•'  (Mnee heal  openine,  we 
i-o,a,    as   things  come   into   an  i     'i-    .•  d  a  ;j   r 

fpake  then   more   lively  and   freflilv"^  '  '"^'-  f 

y/.«<^  <.f  .£»  door  and^nock,  ,f  Z  '"V"  \Z\l 
will  co,„e  ^n  and  [up  ^ah  h,n/anr  '""'  '"A'c^V^n 
underftanding  of  thii  text,  go  Ind  exa?'"'  ""^  ^''"^  '" 
the  commentators  you  can  find,  and  '^'^ 
ed  men  fay  of  it ;  fee  if  they  do  novri 
inward  call  of  the  Spirit  and  grace  of 
into  our  hearts;  andwould  one  think  thf, 
thefe  things  ftiould  be  againft  the  fpiritu-' .^  .,,,,,,  „.  rne 
things  ?  They  fay  that  this  knocking  at  .:!  tol  of  he 
heart  iign  fo   the   call   of  God's  Spirft  at  t  ^^^  ^^ 

«h    ■'   t-  e    ''  "■'   ''^'l  '"f   °^  '""'""  *^'a  man   that  is 
all  «t  tiie   door   of  their  hearts ;    one  is,  ^.^ary 


apply   this  to  the 


unto 
e 


.  never  fin  more.  As^Lon  l^'l'  ^^  ''''*"'' -hat  he  might 
«  called  upon  to  let  ,„  th.  o  ^''TA'  ^e  knock,  and 
aga.nft  temptation,  he  Ljv  In'"  .°^  P''^'  ^°  '^^'P  -™ 
.  «"J  ^aith,  w,th  ail  mv  heZ.?'"',^^  ^eart  to  receive  k, 
the  grace  of  God  ;  J  iT  i  ""^  "^^'^■'t^"  ^"'f  ^^1^°"'^ 
patience   towards   me  •  and   fi    ^VP^d  l«th  had  fo  much 

^■M  embrace  this  ^rac'e  o^  rnf  ~-°'l   ^^^^  1^'^   g-"^"'    I 

^•'Jl    take  it    into.^v  heaVi-        '"*bove  all   pleafures,  and  I 

greateft  jewel   that   l"  know     ■    *^   S"''''"    ""^  ^^"'^   ''   *« 

cour;e,  and  prayed,  Lord  '''"     Honeft    Paul,    he   took   this 

a  temptation   that  trouble '^'^^^e  a'^'a)'  this  tempter;  here  is 

vield,  for  a!l   the  devi'''*^ 'i^h  me,  and  I  am  not  willing  to 

tiie  Lord,  and  befo-^  o'j  follows   me  with  it  ;  he  cried  wit 

av/^  the  tempta'iQp  .'\"j|'j(^'?/n  t/iree  times,  eameflly,    to  tak 

^^j'lfflcient  j\r  fii^g'    xj/ha*! '^'^e  Lord  anfwers  him,  my  grace 

thee,  and  tr^    ,  ,      l         Kabtt   matter  if  the   tempter   buffet 

into  rhv  t,   ■JWDie  tn^e,    na  r 

rr         ^Seart?   Thou  art '  '"  thou  not  received  my  grace 

d^X-^li'my  <yrace  is  fum^  believer,    and   thy   truft  is   in 

wn    As  worft,    keep  thou  ''^amtfor  ^//..      Let  the  tempter 

.t  Withftand  and  overco,   to   the  grace  of  God,    and  thou 

If  a  man  openeth  his  Afe  the  temptation  when  it  comes. 

comes,  then  you  fliall  findf  heart  and  rece.veth  Chnft  when  he 

«o  and  try  him  with  th^-  ^"^h  an  alteration  in  that  man,  that 

Sver  him  the  laft  week,  ir'e  *ame  temptation  which  prevailed 

1     ,  ™,f»,-    onrl  a?*^  Will  not  do  lO  now  ;  though  he  be 
as  weak  as  watei ,  ana  as  '       .  ?    . 

,    r  , w,  V>'.win(*  prone  to  corruption  and  iniquitv  as 

before,  yet  now  navinr,  ^   ^  .  ,    ,  r    .     ,  .  i     ^  , 

orace  of  God  ^nW  deP.'  a  faith  begotten  in  hmi  that  the 
fnares.  Noxv  this  m?'^^^  ^.^"^>  he  keeps  out  of  the  devil  s 
iniquitv  be  purged  ou  ,^"  trufting  in  this  grace  till  his  fin  and 
there  is  a  cle.n  hear^^'  "^f  |^  ^^e  time  to  ipread  the  table  ', 
^j  1  A^\,.^--<.c  r^(-'U  and  the  heavenlv  euelt  is  now  come, 
and  the   dainties  or     ,       i  •      j  t         i  l-       r 

,  .  iT.^  .-,,.       ■  the   Kinedom  are   broueht  to  him  tor 

his  nourimment.       .  P  t       Ji  -  j 

r  -./    / ;  .,     ^...^iVtir,    iaith  Chrilt,    1   vjiLl  co?ne  in   and 

up  ^vit/i  fur/?,  ancT         >  \ 

-'^^       •  /    /•        ^,1.  ?ny  tatier  ai  o  vciU  co?fie,    and  ive  wiU 
■   Cup  until  luw,  an''    ,  -^     .  ,  ;4.,  .  ,' 

S  ^,     r     ,  ^'ii  he  ivtth  us.     This  never  happens  to  any 

body  io  lone  as  •     r     i      r        u 

11    •      a  1      .1^-   the   table  and   heart  is  foul;  for   the  ta- 
.     ble  mult  be  clcr  j     i      j     •,       j   r       i  j 

1  -11    *u^  T-in»  and  the  devil  and  lin  thrown  out,  and 

then   Will   the  i     '  ^  .^  j    r    i     u 

r<  ^u--ord   confarm  and  ratiiv,    and   leal   the  co- 
venant ;    lo^tr       ,         .  .,-''.       ^       -    , 

,     1     j-kjo  lat  here  is  a  leal  with  a  witneis.      when  a 

man    a        ^     teftiraony  of  the  love  of  God,  that  God  is 

reconciled 


Lord's  Supper  ajjlrtecl,  26^ 

reconciled  to  him  in  Chrift,  then  Chrift  will  come  in,  and 
he  will  bring  his  Father,  and  they  will  flip  with  him  ; 
and  this  is  that  which  will  give  complete  latisfadion  to 
fuch  a  foul. 

All  the  tongues  of  men  and  angels  are  too  fhort  to  fpeak 
pcthefe  things,  as  they  are  in  them.felves,  but  they  are  all 
ilnifefted  by  the  Spirit.  All  the  myfteries  of  the  kingdom  of 
^od,  are  manifefted  by  the  Spirit  of  God  ;  now  to  fay  there 
is  no  Spirit  to  be  regarded  now-a-days,  that  is  as  much  as  to 
fay,  v/e  muft  never  regard  the  kingdom  of  God,  for  no  man 
can  difcern  the  things  of  God  hut  the  Spirit  of  Gody  no  man 
can  tell  what  they  be  ;  as  no  man  can  know  the  things  of  a  mai^ 
but  the  fpirit  of  a  man. 

But  I  muft  look  to  this  and  the  other  form,  and  mark, 
and  methodize  them,  for  we  can  know  nothing  of  the 
things  of  God  themfelves. 

I  hope  you  are  all  of  another  judgment,  and  believe 
that  this  is  a  trick  and  cheat  of  the  wicked  onej  people 
do  find  the  Spirit  and  will  feel  it  if  they  will  wait  upon 
the  motions  of  it.  I  do  not  only  mean  when  you  are 
here  together,  but  when  you  are  feparated  one  from  ano- 
ther ;  when  you  feel  the  motions  of  this  good  Spirit,  em- 
brace them,  and  make  them  yours.  This  Spirit  is  a  gift 
that  is  given ;  fo  may  a  fhilling  or  a  piece  of  bread  be 
held  forth  to  a  poor  creature,  but  if  he  receive  it  not, 
he  may  perifh  for  all  thatj  it  is  not  his,  tho'  I  have  ap- 
pointed it  to  be  his,  and  have  feperated  it  from  my 
other  fubftance  to  be  his.  If  he  receive  not  what  I  offer 
and  would  give  him,   he  may   periih  for  all  that. 

Here  is  grace  and  truth  comes  by  Jcfus  Chrift^  and  God 
hath  offered  it  to  all  men,  in  that  he  hath  raiftd  up  thrift  from 
the  dead;  the  grace  of  God  which  bringeth  falvatioh,  hath 
appeared  unto  all  men  ;  but  all  men  have  not  received  it, 
therefore  all  men  have  it  notj  and  they  that  have  not 
the  grace  of  Chrift,  and  the  Spirit  of  Chrift^  are  no72e  of 
his;  but  it  doth  not  follow  that  they  never  will  be  no^e 
of  his.  When  they  have  received  the  gift  by  Chrift,  a':d 
fay,  I  will  be  his  fheep  or  lamb,  they  will  come  into  his 
favour  by  that  gift,  and  fhall  partake  of  the  good  things 
of  his  Father's  kingdom  j  but  till  they  have  received  this 


2^4  Christ  the  Way, 

gift,  they  are  not  the  better  for  it,  they  have  not  any 
benefit  by  the  death  of  Chrift ',  they  have  no  help,  no 
benefit  by  it,  except  it  be  the  patience  and  long-i'ulfering 
of  God,  who  for  Chrift's  fake  bears  with  their  weakneis, 
and  waits  to  be  gracious,  and  for  Chrift's  fake  offers  them 
favour  j  but  they  are  not  come  to  the  poffclTion  of  it,  till 
they  open  their  hearts,  and  receive  the  grace  of  Chrift  j 
then  they  are  convinced  of  Chrift's  end,  and  that  there  is 
a  poUibihty  of  enjoying  the  Spirit  of  God,  and  of  being 
taught  and  led  by  it. 

Take  this  along  with  you,  that  it  is  your  abfolute  and 
indifpenfable  duty  to  wait  from  day  to  day  upon  the  great 
God  of  Heaven,  the  gr.jer  of  every  good  and  perfeB  gifiy 
that  you  may  have  that  bleiied  gift,  that  you  may  have 
the  affiftance  of  a  greater  power  than  your  own  to  lead 
you  out  of  fin  into  righteoulnefs,  that  through  Jefus  Chirft 
you  may  be  acceptable  to  God. 

SERMON    XXIIL 

Christ  the  Way,  the  Truth,  and  the 
Life. 

Preached  at   GrJCE-Church-Street^  April   i8,    iGSy, 

I  Fear  the  high  places  are  not  taken  away ;  it  hath  been 
fo  in  all  ages,  and  it  is  m.anifeftly  fo  in  this  day  ; 
where  the  heart  is  not  rightly  prepared  for  the  Lord, 
there  the  high  places  are  not  taken  away :  For  all  the 
high  places  in  the  time  of  Ifrael's  idolatry,  they  were 
ever  fet  up  when  they  departed  from  the  Lord,  and  all  the 
high  places  now  they  are  up  in  a  time  of  ignorance  of 
God;  when  people  have  forgotten  the  Lord,  then  they  ex- 
alt themselves,  then  pride,  and  arrogance,  and  every  evil 
V/ay  prevails  upon  us ',  but  when  men  come  to  feek  the 
Lord  with  uprightnefs,  that  brings  down  their  high  con- 
ceits, that  brings  every  one  into  humility  ;  for  every  one 
comes  to  be  convinced  in  themielves  that  none  can  find 

the 


the  Truth,  and  the  LiFE.  26'^ 

the  Lord,  but  as  they  are  brought  to  be  humble ;  nav, 
indeed,  none  feek  after  him  aright  but  fuch,  none  have 
the  promife  of  finding  him   but  the  humble. 

Therefore  it  is  the  duty  of  every  one  that  is  a  real  en- 
quirer and  feeker  after  God,  to  know  the  right  prepara- 
tion of  mind,  to  know  themfclves  in  fuch  a  frame  of 
fpirit,  that  they  may  feek  in  hope,  that  they  may  have  a 
right  and  juil:  expedation  of  finding  him  whom  they  are 
feeking  after;  for  this  liath  been  the  reafon  that  a  great 
many  have  been  fruflrated  in  their  endeavours,  and  in 
their  purpofes  of  feeking  after  the  Lord,  they  have  not 
been  rightly  prepared  for  him  to  manifeft  himxfelf  unto 
them,  they  have  not  known  the  preparation  of  his  fanc- 
tiiary ;  there  was  a  peculiar  preparation  that  was  requifite 
to  thofe  that  drew  near  unto 'the  fanduary^  of  God,  they 
Were  hallowed,  that  is,  made  holy,  ere  they  drew  near  to 
the  holy  place ;  but  alas !  this  hath  been  greatly  ne^lccled 
in  our  days,  unholy  people  with  unholy  minds  have  been 
feeking  after  the  Holy  God,  they  have  been  enquiring  after 
a  holy  way,  and  were  not  prepared  to  walk  in  it,  there 
was  nothing  raifed  in  their  minds,  that  was  fit  to  walk  in 
that  way. 

For  fo  long  as  men  or  women  ftand  in  unity  v/ith  their 
lufts  and  concupifcence,  with  the  fpirit  of  this  world,  and 
the  way  of  it,  they  are  not  capable  of  receiving  that  which 
fhould  lead  them  into  the  way  of  holinefs ;  nay,  if  it  appears 
to  them,  they  cannot  receive  it,  for  it  is  with  them  as  v/ith 
other  guefts,  there  be  other ,  lovers  already  let  in,  which 
employ  the  powers  and  faculties  of  their  fouls,  fo  that  if 
the  moft  beloved  of  all,  the  moil:  excellent,  if  the  chief eji 
of  ten  thoufand  do  appear,  they  cannot* /^^  a  covielinefs  in. 
him.  The  prophet  fpeaking  of  this  flate  and  condition  of 
men,  did  prophefy  concerning  our  Lord  Jefas  Chrift,  ivheit 
vje  fliall  fee  him  there  is  no  cornelinefs  in  him  vohy  ive  fhould 
dffire  him  J  and  fo  it  hath  happened  to  a  great  m.any  now- 
a-days,  though  the  truth  hath  appeared  to  them,  yet  they 
have  not  looked  upon  it  as  a  pleafant  way,  as  a  way  de- 
flrable,  but  a  way  to  be  ihunned  if  pofTible.  Xv'hat  ihifts 
have  a  great  many  people  made  to  keep  themfelves,  if  p>)fn- 
ble,  out   of  the  wav   of   truth,  arj^uini^  for   this  and  that, 

L  1  and 


zijS  Christ  the  W'ay^ 

a  :d  difpiuing  for  one  V'ay  and  another  that  was  out  of 
truth's  v;ay,  out  of  the  way  of  hohneis.  Vhat  vas  the 
meaning  of  all  their  arguments,  but  to  tell  us  they  might 
be  happy,  they  might  be  faved,  though  they  did  not  come 
into  truth's  way,  and  walk  in  truth's  way?  And  though 
they  did  abide  in  tho^e  things,  that  were  contrary  to  the 
teftimonv  of  truth  in  their  own  hearts,  \et  it  misht  eo 
well  with   them. 

This  is  the  ftrength  of  the  arguments  of  all  forts,  of  all 
perluafions  in  the  World,  that  have  been  arguing  them- elves 
out  of  the  truth,  and  would  argue  us  out  of  the  truth  too, 
and  would  take  the  liberty  to  do  tho'e  things  which  are  not 
agreeable  therewith  j  but  now  the  reafon  of  this  is  becaufe 
the  preparation  is  wanting,  the)'  are  tho-e  that  have  no  need 
of  truth,  and  that  have  no.  need  of  God,  and  of  a  Saviour; 
but  think  they  can  make  iMft  without  them  ;  he  is  not  be- 
come the  chiefcil'  to  them,  they  can  abide  in  the  high  places, 
they  can  call  upon  the  name  of  the  Lord,  and  they  can  wor-' 
f:ip  in  the  groves,  and  in  the  high  places  both  together, 
like  thoHe  nations  that  were  brought  to  inhabit  the  king- 
dom of  L^rael  when  the  ten  tribes  aj(  ere  carried  away,  they 
fent  for  pritlts  to  teach  them,  they  fent  back  to  the  king 
of  Afjyria  to  lend  them  lome  priefts,  to  teach  them  to 
worlhip  the  God  of  their  country,  and  when  the  pried 
came  to  teach  them,  he  taught  them  the  ceremonies  of  the 
law,  and  the  divers  ob  ervations  that  the  Jews  ufed  to 
pradi^^e  in  that  country,  and  fo  they  grew  into  a  formality 
of  ierving  the  God  of  Israel,  they  called  upon  the  name  of 
the  Lo?'d,   and  every   nation  ivorjhipped  their  oivn   Gods, 

How  is  this  nation,  and  the  nations  of  Europe,  now  in- 
habited with  fuch  a  people  that  are  called  by  the  name  of 
the  Lord,  but  every  one  worfliipping  their  own  Gods;  one 
m  kes  gold  and  filver  his  God,  another  makes  his  pleafure 
his  God,  another  his  honour,  another  this,  that,  and  the  other 
luft,  and  they  bow  down  to  them,  that  is,  they  }ield  them- 
fejves  to  their  lulls,  concupifcence  and  corruptions,  that 
they  (land  in  unity  with,  but  they  call  upon  the  name 
of  the  Lord  too ;  they  do  apply  themielves  to  fome 
kind  of  form  of  worihip,  which  they  fay  is  unto  the  immor- 
tal and  invifible  God  j  but  alas !  they  come  not  to  the  know- 
ledge 


the  Truth,  and  the  Life,  z6y 

ledge  of  God  by  this.  All  that  the  priefts  could  do  that  the 
king  of  Ajjyria  fent  back,  could  not  bring  the  Samaritans 
to  the  knowledge  of  the  God  of  Ifrael^  they  onlv  brought 
them  to  a  report  of  fuch  a  God,  that  had  fet  up  fuch  a  law  : 
They  had  the  report  of  it,  and  for  fear  that  the  lions  fhould 
tear  them  in  pieces,  they  would  enter  into  that  form,  but  they 
Worihipped  their   own    Gods    ftiil. 

So'  it  is  now,  people  do  not  come  to  the  knowledge  of 
the  true  God,  the  living  God,  by  entering  into  anv  form 
of  religion;  for  inftance,  prayer,  hearing  of  any  ordinance 
or  chjrch-fellowlhip,  the'e  give  not  men  the  knowledge  of 
God,  there  is  but  one  way  to  come  to  chat,  but  one  onlv. 
Men  have  found  a  great  many,  it  is  paft  your  skill  and  mine 
to  reckon  up  the  many  ways  that  men  have  found  out  upon 
the  face  of  the  earth,  how  they  might  come  to  the  knov/ledge 
of  God,  and  to  peace  and  reconciUation  with  him  \  but  they 
have  onlv  p!a'  ed  the  fool,  and  fpent  their  time  in  vain, 
efpecially  thev  that  own  the  icriptures  of  truth  to  be  a  true 
and  faithful  record  of  the  mind  and  will  of  God,  thev 
play  the  fool  abominably;  for  the  fcripiure  that  they  give 
To  much  reputation  to  in  their  profelTion  doth  teilify  the 
way  is  but  one,  and  there  is  no  other  wav  for  people  to  be 
reconciled  to  God,  than  by  coming  into  ChriO: ;  to  be 
found  in  him,  to  be  regenerated  and  born  into  his  nature, 
and  have  his  qualities  put  upon  them,  that  as  he  was  purey^ 
they  may  he  pune  ;  that  he  that  fanctifieth,  and  they  ivho  are 
fanBified  by  hitn,  way  become  both  one^  and  fo  be  reconciled 
to  the  Father  through  him.  This  you  know  is  the  common 
profeflion  of  Chrlftendom,  or  at  leaft  of  our  nation.  And 
in  other  nations,  the  common  profeflion  is,  there  is  no  Me^ 
diator  but  one,  no  Reconciler  but  one.  Indeed  Tome  others 
hold  there  may  be  other  Mediators,  and  that  there  are  others 
that  may  contribute  to  them  by  their  mediation,  and  by 
their  prayers  and  merits,  but  the  generality  of  the  nations 
are  otherwife. 

Now  for  people  to  fall  out,  and  fay,  my  way  is  befl,  and 
thy  way  is  not  beft,  and  to  fall  into  contefts  about  many 
ways,  when  the  fcripture  concludes  there  is  but  one  way,  is 
not  well ;  we  had  better  all  agree  about  this  dodlrine,  that  there 
is  no  poffibility  of  reconciliation  with  God,  fince  we  are 

fallen 


268  Christ  the  Way, 

£illen  out  \{ith  him,  and  fince  lin  hath  made  a  reparation, 
there  is  no  way  of  being  reconciled  again  to  God,  but  by 
and  through  our  Lord  Jeiiis  Chrift  ;  nor  by  him  neither, 
unlefs  we  receive  of  his  Spirit  to  quicken  us  ;  nothing  can 
quicken  us,  enHven  us,  or  recommend  us  to  God,  but  the 
Spirit  of  Chriit  operating  and  working  in  our  hearts,  that 
he  may  prepare  us  for  the  Father's  kingdom. 

If  people  would  agree  upon  this,  there  would  be  an 
end  of  ail  labour,  and  toil,  and  jangUng  about  the  right 
way,  for  the  confequence  and  conclufion  would  be  this  : 
That  the  .man  who  doth  not  know  himfelf  the  fandifying 
power  of  the  Spirit  of  Chrifl  Jefus,  he  is  out  of  the  way  to 
reconcihation  with  God,  let  his  form  and  profelTion  be 
vdiat  it  will  :  If  therefore  he  be  reconciled  to  God,  it  mufl: 
be  by  and  through  the  Mediator,  and  he  will  never  recom- 
mend him  to  the  Father  till  he  hath  made  him  a  temple  to 
let  in  the  Spirit  of  ChriPt,  to  work  in  his  heart,  to  fit  him 
for  the  kingdom  of  God  :  And  men  have  no  other  way  to 
com.e  to  it  ;  for  though  they  be  zealous  in  every  prayer 
and  form,  it  lignites  nothing  to  any  great  'purpofe,  their 
hope  will  be  fruflrated  y  there  is  no  other  ivay^  faith  Chrifi:, 
of  ccming  to  the  Father,  but  by  me  ;  I  aw  the  ivay,  the  truth 
and  the  life.  If  I  am^  out  of  the  truth,  I  am  out  of  the  way  j 
?x.vA  if  I  am  out  of  the  wav,  then  I  cannot  come  to  the  end 
of  the  way.  This  is  plain  reafoning  among  men  :  If  I  tell 
a  lie,  that  is  out  of  the  truth  :  If  I  have  vain  com.munication, 
or  deceive  or  wrong  my  neighbour,  that  is  out  of  the  truth; 
if  I  am  in  that  which  is  mzanifefted  in  my  confcience  to  be  con- 
trary to  the  truth,  I  am  out  of  the  wav;  thoueh  I  be  ftrid 
in  that  way,  as  to  profeflion,  vet  I  am  out  of. the  way  to 
God,  I  am  out  of  the  truth ;  there  is  no  v/av  to  God  but 
by  Chrifr,  who  is  the  v/av,  the  truth  and  the  life  ;  whoever 
is  out  of  him,  is  out  of  the  way  ;  which  made  the  apoftle 
fay,  that  his  labour j  endeavour  and  defire  ivas,  that  he  might 
be  found  in  Chrift,  not  having  his  own  righteonfnefs,  but 
having  on  the  righteoufnefs  of  Chrift  Jefus. 

Many  men  think  to  recommend  themfelves  to  God  by 
their  righteous,  juft  and  honeft  dealings,  and  doing  wrong 
to  nobody.  This  is  good  in  irfelf,  but  doth  not  recom- 
mend us  to  God,  unlcis  i:  be  done  bv  the  riehteous  and 

hoiv 


the  Truth,  and  the  Life.  ^^9 

holy  Spirit  of  Chrift  Jefus,  unlefs  it  be  of  his  working; 
he  muft  have  the  working  of  righteoufnefs  and  truth  in 
us  ;  he  muft  plant  it,  and  it  muft  grow  by  his  working, 
if  it  be  acceptable  to  the  Father  ;  for  wit/iota  me,  faith 
Chrift,  you  can  do  72othing.  A  man  out  of  Chrift,  a  ftran- 
ger  to  his  Spirit,  may  do  fomething,  bu:  nothing  avail- 
able to  the  well-being  of  his  foul,  'till  he  have  reconciliation 
by  Chrift  Jefus :  If  he  be  reconciled  to  God,  this  Mediator 
muft  be  the  Reconciler,  and  he  rnuft  fit  and  prepare  him  for 
reconciliation  with  the  Father. 

All  the  divifions,  forts  and  feds  of  religion,  muft  all  come 
to  an  end ;  if  this  mieafurii:ig  line  be  laid  to  them,  they  all 
appear  too  (hort  j  and  there  is  nothing  v/ill  do  a  man  good, 
but  that  religion  that  obligeth  and  ties  him  to  the  good 
pleafure  of  God,  through  the  Spirit  of  the  Mediator,  which 
he  feels  working  in  him,  by  which  he  is  raifed  from  death 
to  fome  degree  of  life  :  "^hen  he  is  fenfible  what  a  burthen 
fm  is  to  his  life,  that  godly  life  v/hich  he  hath,  he  is  bur- 
thened  with  every  Cm,  and  oppreffed  with  every  vain  thought, 
and  every  vain  word,  if  he  be  not  in  fome  meafure 
quickened,  he  is  not  fenfible  of  this  burthen  j  but  being 
quickened,  he  is  fenfible  of  the  burthen  that  lies  upon  his 
life,  by  reafon  of  his  fin  j  and  then,  being  under  the  v/cight 
of  his  fin,  he.calls  to  God  for  his  aftiftance;  he  cries  to  God 
to  help  him  ;  he  now  knows  that  he  hath  ftriven  and  labour- 
ed in  vain.  O  God  of  all  grace,  if  thou  vouch fafeft  not 
help  to  my  foul,  if  thou  doft  not  interpofe  by  the  afiiftance 
of  thy  grace,  I  cannot  overcome  this  fin.  There  is  a  con- 
tinual cry  to  God  for  divine  aftlftance,  and  as  they  cry  to 
God  fc\^  aflifta-nce,  he  minifters  afTiftance  to  them,  by  which 
they  are  able  to  overcome  the  enemy  of  their  fouls,  and 
all  temptations  v/hen  they  come :  And  when  a  man  finds 
fuch  divine  afTiftance,  his  faith  is  ftrengthened  and  con- 
firmed, and  fo  \\Q  fights  the  good  fight  ofi  faith,  and  at  laft 
gets  the  victory;  vidory  over  his  iin,  and  his  own  lufts^ 
and  concupifcence,  and  vidory  over  the  alTauIts  and  tern- 
tations  of  the  adverfary,  and  at  laPc  he  conges,  through  the 
grace  of  God,  to  dSiy  all  tmgcdlinefs  and  vjorldly  ^fits, 
and  to  live  righteoifiy,  foberly  and  godly  in  this  prefent 
ivorld. 

Now 


2^0  Christ  the  Way, 

Now  when  people  do  thus,  it  is  by  the  grace  of  God. 
This  life  of  righteoirliers,  fobriety  and  godhnefs,  is  not 
the  effed  of  their  labour  and  exerci''e,  and  of  their  endea- 
vours herein,  but  it  is  the  eiFed  of  the  holy  Spirit  that 
hath  been  the  teacher.  When  you  fee  a  man  has  become  a 
good  fcholar,  eminent  in  all  forts  of  learning,  you  will 
conclude  he  did  not  attain  to  all  this  of  himfelf,  he  did 
not  learn  this  and  the  other  language,  this  and  the  other 
art  and  fcience  of  himfelf;  no,  he  had  fome  judicious  and 
able  mailer  and  teacher,  who  communicate-d  of  his  learn- 
ing and  knowledge  to  his  difciple  and  fcholar:  This  is 
the  efficient  caufe  of  his  improvement.  Now  if  a  man,  by 
the  grace  and  the  Spirit  of  God,  and  the  teachings  of  it, 
live  a  holy,  godly  Kfe,  this  is  the  effed:  of  fomething; 
he  did  not  always  live  fuch  a  life,  how  comes  he  to  live 
iuch  a  life  now  ?  Is  it  by  his  own  induftry,  labour  and 
exercife  ?  No,  it  is  by  being  exercifed,  taught  and  led  by 
the  Spirit  of  God ;  fo  that  it  is  the  effed  of  the  grace 
of  God  that  he  fh.ould  live  fuch  a  holy  life,  this  is  the 
meritorious  caufe  of  it,  as  he  is  a  creature,  and  by  this 
only  acceptable  to  God   in   Chrift   the   Mediator. 

Thus  a  man  comes  to  be  juftified  and  accepted,  not 
becaufe  he  is  a  godly  man,  but  is  made  fo  by  the  Spirit 
of  God :  You  are  not  under  the  law^  faith  the  apoflle,  but 
under  grace  :  You  are  under  the  teachings  of  it,  under 
the  diredions  of  it :  Grace  can  reprove  people ;  for  that 
grace  and  that  truth  that  comes  by  Chrift,  and  manifelts 
itfelf  as  a  hght  in  the  hearts  of  tranrgreffors,  reproves 
their  fin,  and  calls  them  out  of  it  ;  it  reproves  them  for 
it,  and  exhorts  them  to  leave  it,  both  at  one  time ;  fo  that 
v/e  muft  acknowledge  all  our  righteoufnefs,  holinefs  and 
obedience  to  be  of  God,  and  all  that  we  do  in  order 
thereunto,  as  it  is  done  by  the  teaching,  by  the  influence 
and  operation  of  the  grace  of  God  given  us  in  Chrift 
Jefus  ;  it  is  the  effed  of  him  who  is  our  Mediator,  he 
worketh  it   in   us,   and  for   us,  of  his  good   pleafure. 

If  we  be  juftified,  we  are  not  juftihed  for  a  righteous, 
hol^ife,  and  for  our  obedience  ;  but  we  are  juftified  through 
Chrift,  v/ho  worketh  a  godly  life  in  them  that  believe,  fo  that 
a  man  is  not  juftified  by  any  other  way  or  means  7  and  all 

other. 


the  Truth,  and  the  Life,  2yt 

other  ways  a  man  takes  of  being  reconciled  to  God,  are 
vain  and  fruitlefs,  and  have  been  fpoken  againft  by  all  that 
were  moved  by  the  Holy  Ghoft  in  the  New  Teftament. 
Saith  the  prophet,  ivhat^Jhall  I  come  before  the  Lord  ivithal  ? 
I  am  fallen  under  death  and  fin,  and  in  a  reparation  from 
God,  I  would  fain  be  reconciled  to  him  j  what  (hall  I  do 
to  be  reconciled  to  God  ?  He  goes  about  to  reckon  without 
Ghrift,  and  without  faith  and  holiness.  Shall  I  take  a 
thousand  rams,  and  ten  then fand  rivers  of  oil  f  Shall  I  come 
nearer  ftill  ?  Shall  I  make  an  offerirg  of  the  fruit  of  my 
body,  for  the  Jin  of  my  foul?  Shall  I  offer  my  frft-born  to 
God,  that  I  may  not  be  rejected  and  brought  to  a  fepa- 
ration  from  him  ?  Thus  men  when  they  come  to  be  {qw- 
fible,  do  feel  in  themselves  that  all  this  is  to  no  purpofe  : 
The  anfwer  comes,  thou  mayeft  live,  but  all  thy  contri- 
vances about  making  an  offering  are  vain  :  He  hath  Jhewed 
thee  O  man  I  what  to  do.  It  is  not  thy  finding  this  way 
and  that  way,  viz.  thy  ram.s,  and  thy  oil,  and  thy  firft-born  ', 
it  is  no  way  of  thy  devifmg  and  Imagining  that  can  recon- 
cile thee  to  me,  /  have  /hewed  thee,  0  man,  what  is  good, 
What  is  this  that  is  ihev/ed  ?  It  is  comprifed  in  a  Ihort 
compafs,  h  is  to  love  mercy,  to  do  jujtne,  and  to  ivalk 
humbly  vjith  thy  God.  Will  this  ferve  without  offering 
rams  and  oil,  and  offering  my  firft  born  ?  This  will  do 
if  thou  canft  but  love  mercy  when  it  is  ihewn  thee ',  that 
is,  embrace  mercy,  and  love  it.  He  hath  (hewed  mercy  to 
all  men  ;  then  love  it  and  receive  it ;  do  j'ftly,  leave  every 
thing  that  is  unrighteous,  and  do  that  which  is  juft  in  the 
fight  of  God,  but  do  not  boafl  of  thy  juftice  and  righ- 
teou^^nefs,  but  walk  humbly  with  thy  God;  here  is  the 
whole  duty  of  man.  Here  is  no  dependence  on  dead  works, 
or  my  own  exertions,  in  order  to  my  juftification. 

Indeed  the  conlideration  of  theie  kind  of  lefTons  do 
corrupt  fome  men,  and  put  them  upon  doing  this  or  that, 
and  upon  forbearing  this  or  that,  and  hath  brought  many 
to  confefiion  and  great  abftinence,  and  put  them  upon 
great  doings,  thinking  this  would  anfwer  the  juflice  of 
Godj  I  have  loved  mercy,  and  given  all  I  had  to  the 
poor.  If  I  do  juf]:ly,  and  abftain  from  this  and  the  other 
liberty,  if  I  walk  humbly,  that  is,  if  I  humble  myfelf  by 

this 


:>'/2  Christ  the  Way, 

this  an<l  the  other  manRer  of  pennance  and  contrition,  then 
I  do  what  God  requires,  and  then  I  have  pleafed  God. 

Now  all  that  have  gone  this  way  to  work,  to  do  juflly, 
and  love  mercy,  and  to  make  themfelves  humble,  and  hum- 
bled themlelves  in  luch  a  low  manner,  they  have  miffed  the 
mark.  He  hath  pieived  thee,  O  ma?i  1  ivhat  is  good ;  that 
it  is  impoITible  for  fallen  man  to  anfwer  this  himfelf  j  he 
m.ay  be  convinced  of  his  duty  to  do  juftice,  but  by  his  ov/n 
power  and  ftrength  he  cannot  do  it;  there  arefo  many  temp- 
tations from  without,  and  fo  many  from  within,  fuch  a 
propennty  in  nature,  that  will  prevail  againfc  all  the  bonds 
of  charity  that  he  can   make. 

Therefore  is  help  laid  upon  one  that  is  mighty  ;  without 
the  grace  of  God  that  comes  by  Chrill  Jeius,  a  man  can 
never  do  right,  though  convinced:  Tho'  the  Lord  hath  ihewed 
him  what  is  good,  hefhews  us  that  we  are  unable  of  ourfelves; 
he  hath  taken  care  to  fend  his  Son  :  God  hath  fo  loved  the 
vjorld,  that  he  hath  feiit  his  Son  into  the  luorld,  that  he 
might  help  thofe  that  have  need  of  help,  that  every  one 
that  is  in  diftrefs  might  have  an  eye  to  Chrift,  the  author 
and  finifier  of  their  faith  ;  when  men  have  a  reference  to 
their  faith  in  Chrift,  this  makes  their  duty  acceptable  :  I 
cannot  do  it  except  the  Lord  ftrengthen  me  ;  therefore  I  will 
have  refped  to  the  Mediator,  Chrift  Jefus,  who  was  fent  for 
a  Uf?ht  into  the  world.  God  fends  forth  his  sjrace  for  every 
one  to  lay  hold  on,  who  generally  believe,  that  tho'  they 
are  unable  to  do  what  God  requires,  yet  he  will  enable 
them  to  do  it  ;  for  as  many  as  received  liim,  to  them  he 
gave  povcer  to  become  the  Sons  of  God,  tho'  they  were  the 
devil's  children  before  ;  he  is  the  fame  yefterday,  to-day, 
and  forever.  He  abides  always  the  fame  in  his  grace  to 
men,  he  is  in  his  operation  to  them  the  fame;  he  offers 
grace  to  them  that  are  in  a  frame  of  mind  to  receive  it; 
they  may  know  that  his  power  will  give  them  ability,  and 
that  whatfoever  they  do  of  themfelves  will  prove  fruitlefs, 
becaufe  it  is  not  done  in  Chrift's  name  and  power,  and  fo 
'not   ac\:eptable  to  God. 

The  greateft  thing  that  v/e  are  to  be  concerned  about,  if 
we  will  be  religious,  and  concern  ourfelves  about  divine 
matters,  about  the  kingdom  of  God  and  the  world  to  come, 

is. 


the  Truth,  and  the  Life.  2^^ 

IS,  to  fee  wliat  frame  of  mind  we  are  in  at  prefent,  whe- 
ther the  high  places  are  taken  away,  whether  we  are  not 
exalted  in  our  own  conceits  of  knowledge  and  wifdom, 
and  reckon  not  to  be  beholden  to  him  for  his  grace. 
If  we  be  highly  conceited,  and  think  we  can  ftand  upoa 
our  own  legs,  the  high  places  are  not  taken  away  :  Men 
are  not  in  this  ftate  p^repared  to  feek  the  God  of  their  fa- 
thers ;  therefore,  let  every  one  turn  to  God,  and  fee  how  it 
is  with  you  j  fee  whether  there  be  a  mind  brought  low 
enough  to  be  fubjed  to  Chrift,  and  to  the  gracious  teach- 
ings  of  his  Spirit. 

A  man  may  fay,  I  can  make  a  fermon,  I  can  make 
a  prayer  and  'exhortation,  and  I  can  make  a  book,  and 
fend  it  abroad,  I  can  do  all  this  by  my  own  parts  and 
abilities  j  To  thou  mayeft,  and  mayeft  make  it  all  full  of 
good  words,  but  thou  canft  never  make  it  acceptable  to 
God  ;  for  without  me,  faith  Chrift,  you  can  do  nothing. 
Thou  muil  have  the  alTiftance  of  the  Spirit  of  Chrift,  elie 
thou  canft  not  make  a  good  prayer,  nor  a  good  book, 
nor  any  thing  good  ;  God  efteenas  the  very  plowing  ^  of 
the  wicked  to  be  an  al)0?nination  to  him.  Where  the  mind 
is  not  exercifed  by  the  Spirit  of  God,  if  he  fliould  pray 
from  morning  to  night,  and  fpend  all  his  "days  in  pen- 
nance,  it  v/ill  do  him  no  good.  If  I,  faith  David,  re- 
gard iniquity  ;  you  may  think  I  am  a  man  in  favour  with 
God,  a  man  after  God's  own  heart  ;  yet  if  I  regard  ini- 
quity in  my  hearty  the  Lord  zvlll  not  hear  my  prayer.  ^  What 
fignifies  prayers  and  fermons,  made  of  good  words,  if  they 
come  not  from  a  heart  feparate  from  iniquity  ?  If  it  be 
not  fo,  it  will  do  no  good  at  all,  in  point  of  accep- 
tance with  God. 

O  let  the  fear  of  the  Lord  enter  upon  every  heart  !  wait 
all  to  feel  the  Divine  Power  of  the  Lord',  that  brings 
.down  every  high  thought,  that  ^o  you  may  look  to  the 
preparation  of  your  hearts,  that  is  a  right  preparati- 
on ;  when  the  "people  are  fo  lov/,  fo  broken  and  lo 
tender,  that  they  are  nothing  in  their  own  eyes,  but  what 
the  Lord  will  make  them  to  be  ',  then  they  are  as  clay  ia 
the  hands  of  the  potter,  they  are  fafhioned  by  his  hands, 
and  made    the    workmanjhlp    of  God   in    Chrift  Jefus^    the 

Mm  on? 


55^4  *    CnnisT  the  Way,  8zc. 

one  MccUator  betxveen  God  and  man.  They  muft  beat* 
the  hkenefs  of  Chrift  Jefus,  bear  his  Heavenly  image,  they 
mud  have  his  quahties,  ancl  have  the  fame  mind  in  them 
that  was  in  him  :  1  do  always  that  vchich  pleafeth  my 
Father,  faith  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift.  Indeed  he  hath  the 
doing  of  things  in  the  hearts  of  men,  and  God  is  pleaf- 
ed  with  him,  and  where  men  have  the  doing  of  them 
themfelves,  they  are  thrown  back  as  dung  in  their  faces  j 
where  any  rightly  dcfire  juilincation,  where  men  have 
a  right  preparation  of  heart,  fo  to  feek  the  God  of  their 
fathers,  as  to  find  him  and  be  accepted  of  him,  it  is 
through  Jefus    Chrift,   in  whom    he  is  well   pleaied. 

In  all  your  aifemblies,  prayers,  exercifes  and  meditati- 
ons, you  muft  be  feparated  and  drawn  off  from  your  for- 
mer iovers,  and  you  rauft  be  joined  to  him  that  God  hath 
fent  to  be  a  leader  and  a  guide  unta  you,  then  you  will 
find  dailv  his  aftiftance  j  and  as  you  have  aftlftance  from 
him,  you  will  find  acceptance  with  God,  and  he  will  ihew 
vou  the  Father,  and  that,  and  nothing  elfe,  will  fatisfy 
the  foul  hungering  and  thirfting  after  God.  Shew  us  the 
Father,  and  it  fufficeth  us.  So  when  Chrift,  the  Media- 
tor, comes  to  have  wrought  fo  far  as  the  purifying  of 
the  foul,  and  the  fanclifying  thereof,  and  thereby  fitted 
it  for  his  glory,  fuch  holy  fouls  ftiall  behold  his  glory  ; 
for  the  Lord  will  give  grace  and  glory,  and  tiQ  good  thing 
will  he   ivithhold  from  tiiem  that  walk  uprightly. 

That  vou  may  be  brought  to  this  ftate,  and  kept  and 
preferved  in  it  ;  that  the  Heavens  may  rain  down  fatnefs 
upon  VOU;,  and  that  you  may  feel  the  living  virtues  that 
fiow  from  Chrift  to  every  member,  is  the  labour  and  tra- 
vel of  the  fervants  of  God,  for  their  own  fouls,  and  the 
fouls  of  others  that  are  in  unity  and  fellowfhip  with  the 
Holy  Spirit. 


SERMON 


SERMON     XXIV. 

Captive  Sinners  fet  free  by  Jesus  Christ, 
Preached  at  Devonshire-House,  April  2^1,  1688, 

THERE  is  nothing  will  make  people  live  to  God, 
but  that  which  they  receiye  from  God.  For  as 
all  men  are  by  nature  in  a  ftate  of  death,  To  there 
mud  be  fom.ething  beyond  nature  to  make  them  alive  again  ; 
and  this  is  what  every  one  ought  to  wait  upon  God 
for,  that  you  may  feel  fomething  that  is  fupernatural,  and 
that  you  may  be  acquainted  with  God's  gift ;  the  gift  of 
God^  faith  the  fcripture,  is  eter7ial  life.  Many  find  a  life 
in  this  world,  that  is  not  the  gift  of  God.  The  life  that 
people  have  in  fin,  it  is  not  the  gift  of  God  ;  the  delights 
and  pleafures  of  this  world  are  become  a  life  unto  them. 
The  world  is  that  to  which  every  one  muft  die ;  they 
that  are  not  dead  to  that,  they  all  live  to  themfelves, 
they  do  not  hve  to  God,  for  none  can  live  to  God,  but 
by  the  life  that  comes  from  him.  That  which  people  re-* 
ceive  of  man,  gathers  them  unto  m.an  j  that  v/hich  they 
receive  of  God,  carries  them  to  God. 

So  men  have  m.ade  gatherings,  and  have  communicated 
of  what  they  have  to  one  another,  and  by  virtue  there- 
of, have  made  them  a  people:  Many  men  have  gathered 
many  people,  many  churches,  and  they  live  to  them  that 
gathered  them  ',  they  do  not  live  to  God,  for  want  of  re- 
ceiving fomething  from  God,  but  all  they  that  come  to  re- 
ceive the  gift  of  God,  they  die  to  the  world,  and  they 
come  to  live  fuch  a  life  as  the  world  doth  not  love,  doth 
not  care  for,  and  hath  no  pleafure  in:  If  you  ivere  of  the 
ivorld,  faith  Chrift,  the  vjorld  vjould  love  you  ;  hut  becaiife 
you  are  not  of  the  world,  they  hate  you.  How  fliould  this 
be  underftood,  were  not  they  fome  of  the  men  of  that 
generation  ?  How  doth  he  mean  they  were  not  of  the 
world  I  Why^  I  have  taken  you  out  of  ity  faith  he  j  and 
yet  they  were  there  ftill,  and  they  were  named  by  certaia 
names,  the  fons  of  fuch  and  fuch  men  i  yet  for  all  that^ 

they 


2^/6  Captive  Sinners 

they  v/ere  not  of  the  world  ;  and  that  which  difiPercd  in  them 
was,  being  made  partakers  of  that  life  which  the  world 
knev/  not. 

And  fo  there  will  be  an  enmity  in  the  world  againft  the 
life  of  holinefs  ;  they  will  hate  any  body  that  lives  in  it ; 
and  as  it  was  then,  fo  it  is  at  this  day,  they  that  are  of  the 
"World,  they  hear  and  receive  thofe  things  that  are  of  the  world, 
from  the  men  of  this  world  j  but  they  that  are  of  God,  they 
hear  them  that  are  of  God,  and  they  receive  the  things  of 
God,  and  their  greateft  comfort  and  joy  that  they  have  is 
in  their  communion  with  God  in  Chrift  Jefus,  through 
whom,  as  through  a  conduit,  the  blellings  of  the  father 
are  miniftered  to  them,  and  through  whom,  as  from  the 
fountain  of  life,  their  life  is  renewed  from  da  v  today. 

But  thefe  things  are  hid  from  the  world,  from  the  unfe 
mid  prudent  of  it  ;  they  cannot  dig  into  the  depth,  nor 
afcend  to  this  height ;  they  cannot  comprehend  the  length  and 
the  breadth  of  the  things  of  God,  ivhich  are  in  Chriji  Jefus ; 
they  may  reach  unto  ibmething  of  the  love  of  God^  that 
is  in  the  creation  y  they  can  tell  when  the  fun  fhines  upon 
them,  and  when  the  rain  falls  upon  their  fields  ,  and  when 
it  falls  in  due  feafon  thev  call  it  a  blelTins;  and  while  the 
covenant  with  winter  and  fummer  remains,  they  look  upon 
it  as  comfortable,  and  perhaps  fometimes  will  beftow  a  fay- 
ing, i  tha?ik  God  for  it.  All  thefe  things  are  beneath  us, 
and  there  is  neither  love  nor  hatred  known  by  them  all.  I 
favj  the  voickedy  faith  one,  I  beheld  his  divelling  place y  and 
he  fiouriflied  like  unto  a  green  bay-tree^  and  was  wicked  ftill^ 
iiotwithftanding  all  this. 

But  now,  they  that  fee  where  they  live,  that  live  to  God, 
they  can  fay,  that  their  leaf  never  withers,  but  they  bring 
jorth  their  fruit  in  due  feafon  ;  but  he  did  not  fo.  But 
the  wicked  man  that  fLourifhed  like  a  green  bay-tree,  behold 
I  locked y  and  he  was  rejtioved,  and  his  place  was  no  more  to 
be  found:  There  came  a  blafting  upon  all  his  blelTmg  and 
his  flourifhing  came  to  an  end ;  his  riches  perilhed,  and  his 
good  things  palled  away  from  him.  Bat  the  man  whofe 
delight  is  in  the  law  of  God,  and  makes  it  his  pleafure  both 
night  and  day,  he  is  like  a  tree  planted  by  the  rivers  of 
water,  whofe  leaf  ne'-cer  fades ^  and  brings  forth  his  fruit  in 
due  feafon.  But 


fet  free  hy  Jesus  Christ,  2yy 

But  this  is  hid  \  there  is  no  body  in  the  world  but  would 
have  fomething  of  this  Ufe  too  ;  they  would  be  fure  of  eternal 
life,  but  they  would  not  die  to  the  other  life,  they  would 
not  be  crucitied  to  the  world,  they  would  not  be  feparated 
from  their  lovers  j  if  they  could  get  into  the  ftate  of  a  righ- 
teous man,  an  hour  or  two  before  they  die,  when  they  are 
fure  they  ihall  die,  it  would  pleafe  them  ;  but  to  live  that 
life  that  is  to  God,  is  to  die  to  the  world,  and  to  part 
with  that  they  have,  their  comfort,  their  joy,  their  peace 
and  honour,  and  all  their  worldly  enjoyments  in  it,  before 
they  can  come  to  receive  the  gift  of  God,  they  think  is 
hard  :  But  they  that  look  after  it,  and  have  a  mind  to  find  it 
out,  without  parting  with  the  world's  life,  they  deceive 
themfelves. 

Do  not  you  fee  how  men  have  deceived  themfelves  in 
thefe  days  ?  They  have  fought  after  the  kingdom  of  God 
till  they  are  fcattered  in  their  own  way  ;  they  are  quar- 
relling about  their  own  way,  as  if  they  never  had  any  fcrip- 
ture  to  be  their  rule  :  They  cry  the  fcripture  is  their  rule  y 
this  is  the  way  to  eternal  life,  faith  one  j  and  this  is  the  way, 
faith  another  ;  and  the  one  and  the  other  fay  all  thefe  ways 
are  falle  faving  their  own  ;  and  all  thefe  contenders  about 
the  way  to  eternal  hfe,  they  all  fay  the  fcripture  is  the  rule. 

And  yet  the  fcriptures  fpeak  of  the  way  too,  and  tell  us 
the  way  plainly,  the  way  to  reft,  peace  and  life  eternal.  If 
the  fcriptures  had  been  filent  in  it,  and  had  faid  nothing  but 
of  genealogies  and  hiftories  of  armies  and  wars,  it  had  been 
fomething;  but  the  fcriptures  of  the  Old  and  New  Tefta- 
ment  fpeak  of  a  certain  way  to  eternal  life,  and  fay  it  is  the 
way  of  holinefs,  a  way  fliall  be  caji  up  for  the  redeemed 
and  the  ranfo:red  of  the  Lord  to  walk  iriy  and  the  way- 
fari?2g  man,  though  a  fool^  (hall  not  miftake  in  it.  Though 
he  never  took  a  degree  at  the  univerlity,  he  fliall  not  err 
in  it  y  though  he  be  a  fool  in  the  account  of  the  world, 
and  never  underftood  Greek  or  Latin,  yet  he  fhall  not  err 
in  this  way. 

The  way  that  leads  to  the  kingdom  of  God,  is  called  the 
way  of  holinefs ;  but  while  many  have  been  reading  in 
their  books,  they  have  been  contending  for  a  way  of  unho- 
linefs  5    no  vvonder  then  they  have  been  quarrelling  about 


^^/'S  Captive  SiixTArERs 

it,  and  have  all  milTed  it,  and  that  in  the  main  point  of  all : 
Let  them  make  a  way,  which  way  they  will,  and  frame  it 
ever  fo  wifely,  according  to  the  beft  ^x.  it  they  have,  be  it  a 
way  that  hath  all  material  qualifications  that  ihould  make 
it  a  way  of  holinefs,  thefe  men  may  walk  in  it, ^  but  they 
will  never  find  the  way  to  the  kingdom  of  God,  though 
they  have  fought  it  out  :  Go  to  one  place  and  another  place, 
znd  ask  them  what  is  your  way  ?  Our  way,  fay  they,  is 
the  right  way,  the  moft  fure  and  certain  way  that  can  be 
found  for  people  to  walk  in  :  But  whither  will  it  lead 
me  ?  I:  will  lead  thee  to  the  kingdom  of  God :  That  is  it 
I  would  have  ;  but  will  it  lead  me  to  holinefs  ?  No,  never 
in  this  world,  thou  m.uft  never  come  to  holinefs;  do  the 
heft  thou  can  (I  do  here,  it  is  but  fm  ;  the  beft  day's  v/ork 
thou  makefl  is  but  iin  ;  the  befl:  child  of  God  on  earth 
cannot  live  a  day  without  fm  :  Do  you  hold  out  that  in 
your  way  ?  Yes  ;  then  I  have  done  with  that,  and  muft 
go  to  another   people. 

So  many  have  gone  many  ways  to  the  kingdom  of  God, 
and  when  the  upihot  is  come,  they  have  found  every  way 
a  polluted  way,  a  fmful  way  ;  I  know  this  way  will  never 
lead  me  to  God  ;  Iin  firft  led  me  from  God  ;  I  had  been 
well  enough  as  I  was  created  at  firfc,  if  I  had  never  fmned 
againft  God;  a  linful  way  will  lead  m.e  from  God.  It  is 
againft  common  fenfe,  and  againfl:  rationality,  to  fay  we 
did  firft  go  from  God  by  fm,  and  muft  go  to  God  again 
by  a  finful  way.  "Vi^ho  will  believe  that  fuch  a  way  will  lead 
men  to  God's  kingdom  ?  and  that  any  way  will  lead  men 
to  God,  that  will  not  lead  them  to  holinefs  ? 

The  Plalmift  faith,  if  I  regard  iniquity  in  my  heart  ths 
'Lord  loill  not  hear  me  ;  though  a  man  keeps  dole  to  meet- 
ing, and  ordinances,  and  duties,  and  performances,  iniquity 
it.feems  remains  dill  ;  there  is  no  rooting  it  out  in  this 
world.  This  continuing  and  remaining  with  a  man,  makes 
all  his  performances,  and  duties,  and  prayers  unacceptable 
to  God  ;  they  are  all  turned  back  again  upon  him,  and 
caft  as  dung  upon  his  face,  and  true  enough  too  ;  fo  that 
here  is  no  coming  unto  God  in  this  way  ;  the  comers 
thereunto  know  well  enough  they  are  not  reconciled  to 
God,  if  they  are  men  that  are  confcientious. 

There 


fet  free  by  JeSUS   ChRIST.  2^9 

There  are  a  fort  of  people  fo  ftupid  and  fordid  in  their 
judgment,  that  if  a  man  tells  them  they  are  reconciled  to 
God,  they  will  believe  him  though  confcience  reproves  them 
an  hundred  times  a  day.  If  the  parfon  of  the  parifli  fay, 
that  he  hath  made  this  child  an  heir  of  the  kingdom  of  God 
and  an  inheritor  of  eternal  life  ;  I  know  fome  nave  believ- 
ed it  forty  years  after,  and  have  born  themfelves  up  upon 
this  man's  word  all  their  life :  Do  you  think  there  is  any 
danger  of  me,  that  in  baptifm  was  made  an  inheritor  of 
eternal  life,  and  an  heir  of  the  kingdom  of  God  ?  God 
hath  not  appointed  ordinances  in  his  church  for  nothing. 
I  fpeak  not  of  fuch  fordid  hard-hearted  people,  that  never 
entered  into  themfelves  to  know  how  it  was  with  them, 
whether  they  are  converted  ;  but  I  fpeak  of  fober  confci- 
entious  people,  that  do  not  defire  to  be  cheated  in  a  point  of 
falvation,  though  they  have  been  deceived  a  great  while,  they 
may  be  undeceived :  Then  they  muft  take  this  for  certain 
dodrine,  that  nothing  can  reconcile  them  to  their  Maker 
but  that  which  takes  away  fin.  God  hears  not  finners,  he 
will  never  be  reconciled  to  a  man  in  this  world,  as  a  fm- 
ner  ,  but  there  are  many  thoufands  (bleflfed  be  God)  m 
this  age,  as  well  as  in  other  ages,  that  were  linners,  ^nd 
reconciled  to  God  through  Chrift,  and  had  remifilon  of 
fin  ',  but  never  any  man  in  his  fm  was  reconciled  to  God, 
though  he  did  believe  the  truth,  if  he  did  not  come  to 
the  fandification  of  the  fpirit,  he  could  never  be  recon- 
ciled to   God. 

So  that  there  hath  been,  in  all  age?,  a  way  of  the  work- 
ing of  the  Spirit  of  God  in  the  hearts  of  them  that  be- 
lieve, to  prepare  them  for  the  finlefs  kingdom,  for  that 
glorious  kingdom,  into  which  nothing  that  hurteth,  de- 
fileth  or  corrupteth,  can  enter.  And  becaufe  we  cannot 
enter  with  corruption  and  defilement,  he  hath  appointed 
the  miniftration  of  his  Spirit  to  work  out  that  which  might 
hinder  the  cleaning  of  us  from  fin,  that  we  might  have  an 
abundant  entrance  into  his  glorious  kingdom  ;  fo  that  whilft 
they  fay  there  is  an  impoiTibility  of  living  without  fin, 
I  had  as  lief  they  had  faid,  there  is  an  impofiibility  of 
entering  into  the  kingdom  of  God  ;  for  never  any  fhall 
come  into  the  kingdom  of  God,  but  thofe  that  are  with- 
out fm  ;  for  there  is  no  purgatory  after  death.  The 


28o  Captive  Sinners 

The  Papifts  have  a  better  conceit  than  the  Proteflants 
in  that  refped  :  The  Proteflants  conceive  fin  to  be  ex- 
pelled at  the  point  of  death  ;  and  they  fay,  all  the  fins  of 
believers,  all  the  guilt  of  fin,  after  we  are  believers,  is  par- 
doned, forgiven  and  done  away,  by  the  death  of  Chrift 
upon  the  crofs  ;  we  will  have  it,  if  we  can  get  it.  If 
men  can  imagine  a  way  into  the  kingdom  of  God,  they 
\Y/ill  have  one.  They  believe  that  a  man  may  fin  and  con- 
trail no  guilt ;  and  that  he  may  fin  till  his  dying  day,  and 
then  all  fin  ihall  pafs  away,  and  he  fhall  enter  into  God's 
kingdom.  The  Papifts  fay  none  can  come  to  Heaven  till 
they  be  purged  from  fin  ;  and  they  fay  God  hath  appointed 
a  place  for  that  purpofe,  and  perfons  mufl  go  into  pur- 
gatory, and  they  muft  lie  there  till  they  are  purged,  and 
purified,  and  fitted  for  Heaven.  Now,  fay  the  Proteftants, 
truly  j  there  is  no  fuch  thing,  we  find  no  fuch  thing  men- 
tioned in  the  fcripture,  therefore  fuch  a  thing  as  this  can- 
not be  ;  for  the  apoftle  faid,  ive  have  declared  to  you  the  whole 
cou/ifel  of  God,  and  he  fpeaks  not  a  word  of  purgatory 
In  all  the  New  Teftament.  The  Proteftants  have  got  a  way 
to  help  themfelves,  and  the  Papifi:s,  alfo,  to  help  themfelves, 
and  both  lie  under  danger  :  As  Tor  the  Papifi:s,  if  their 
priefts  mifi:ake,  and  there  be  no  fuch  place  as  purgatorVj^ 
then  they  mufi:  be  brought  back  to  the  dodrine  of  the  fcrip- 
ture, which  declares,  that  as  death  leaves  us,  fo  judg- 
7nent  fhall  find  us  ;  and  as  we  fow  fo  we  mufl  reap  ;  if  we 
fow  to  the  fief  I,  then  of  the  flefh  we  fhall  reap  corruption^ 
Then  the  Protefiants,  likewife,  if  they  mifi:ake  in  faying, 
a  man  may  ad  fin  and  yet  contrad  no  guilt,  then  they  mufl: 
be  brought  back  to  the  dodrine  of  the  fcriptures,  that  tell 
us,  the  foul  that  fumeth  mufl  die :  If  a  righteous  man  for- 
fake  his  righteoufnefs,  and  doth  that  winch  is  evily  his 
righteoufnefs  fliall  be  remembered  no  more,  but  in  the  Jin 
that  he  hath   committed  he  fhall  die. 

This  is  found  dodrine :  I  had  rather  truft  the  dodrine 
of  the  prophets  and  apoftles  than  the  dodrine  of  all  others, 
either  Proteftants  or  Papifts  y  and  had  rather  depend  up- 
on their  dodrine  for  falvation,  that  were  infpired  by  the 
Holy  Ghofi:,  than  upon  thofe  dodrines  that  fay,  there  is 
no  infpiration   now-a-days.     Some  conceive  this  fcripture 

may 


fet  free  by  JeSUS   ChRIST.  281 

may  be  interpreted  thus  and  thus  ;  and  others  conceive 
it  means  fo  and  fo,  but  we  muft,  fay  they,  fubmit  to 
better  judgment  :  I  am  a  faUible  man,  I  fubmit  it  to 
better  judgments.  Now  when  people  are  concerned  for 
immortality  and  eternity,  to  have  fuch  things  difhed  out 
in  fuch  a  manner,  what  fouls  are  fo  dull  but  they  v/oukl 
beftir  themfelves,  and  confider  and  look  about*  them  be- 
fore they  go  hence,  and  how  it  Ihall  go  with  them  when 
thev  are  eone  ? 

We  are  now  to  work  out  our  own  falvation,  that  is  on 
our  part  :  None  ever  have  wrought  out  this  falvation,  it  is 
wrought  out  on  God's  part  already,  and  it  is  to  be  made 
ours  j  he  that  is  our  Saviour,  he  hath  fujfered  for  our  fmSy 
and  rofe  again  for  our  jujlifi cation  ;  he  ivas  made  to  uSy 
t)f  God,  wifdoniy  rigkteoufnefs,  fan6lif  cation,  and  redemp- 
tion. Now  wifdom  iignifies  the  opening  of  the  counfel 
of  God  ',  righteoufnefs  lignifies  the  fubjedion  of  our  wills 
to  the  will  of  God  ;  fandification  fignilies  43bedience  to 
the  Spirit  of  Chrift.  Sandification  fignifies  obedience  to 
fomething  j  to  what  ?  what  fhall  we  be  obedient  unto  ? 
what  is  our  rule  ?  He  that  is  led  by  the  Spirit  of  Chrifl^ 
he  is  his ;  but  he  that  is  not  led  by  the  Spirit  of  Chrifl  is 
none  of  his  ;  fo  that  it  is  plain,  fandification  figni(ies  obe- 
dience to  the  Spirit  of  Chrift,  and  redemption  fignifies 
buying  again,  or  fetting  free  from  bondage. 

Y/e  know  when  our  friends  are  in  captivity,  as  in  Tur- 
key, or  elfewhere,  we  pay  down  our  money  foiM:heir  re- 
demption ',  but  we  will  not  pay  our  money  if  they  be  kept 
in  their  fetters  flill.  Would  not  any  one  think  himfelf 
cheated,  to  pay  fo  much  money  for  their  redemption,  and 
the  bargain  be  made  fo  that  he  fhalj  be  faid  to  be  redeemed, 
and  be  called  a  redeemed  captive,  but  he  muft  wear  his 
fetters  ftill  ?  How  long?  as  long  as  he  hath  a  day  to  live. 

This  is  for  bodies ;  but  now  I  am  i peaking  of  fouls, 
Chrift  muft  be  made  to  me  redemption,  and  refcue  me 
from  captivity.  Am  I  prifoner  any  where?  Yes;  verily ^ 
verily^  he  that  conirnitteth  fin,  faith  Chrift,  he  is  a  fevjcint 
of  fin,  he  is  a  Have  to  fm  :  If  thou  haft  finned,  thou  art  a 
flave,  a  captive,  that  muft  be  redeemed  out  of  captivity  y 
who  w'\\\  pav  a  price  for  me  ?   I  am  poor,  I  have  nodiing, 

N  n  "  I 


-5;?  Captive  Sinners 

1  cannot  redeem  myfelf,  who  will  pay  a  price  for  me? 
There  is  one  come,  who  hath  paid  a  price  for  me  ;  that 
is  well,  that  is  good  news,  then  I  hope  I  fliall  come  out  of 
my  captivity.  What  is  his  name,  is  he  called  a  Redeemer  ? 
So  then  I  do  expe(51  the  benefit  of  my  redemption,  and  that 
I  ihall  go  out  of  my  captivity.  No,  fay  thev,  you  muft 
abide  in  fin,  as  long  as  you  live:  W^hat  benefit  then  have 
I  by  my  rcdem.ption  ?  I  could  have  been  in  captivity  no 
lonf^er  ;  if  I  had  not  been  redeemed,  I  miufi:  wear  my  (hackles 
licd  fetters  fall,  and  be  fubjedi:  to  miy  old  m.after  and  patron, 
and  when  he  \rill  have  me  be  drunk,  I  muft  be  drunk  ; 
and  when  he  will  have  me  be  unclean,  I  miuft  be  unclean. 

Thus  miany  profeft  Chrifnans  there  be  (you  fee  it  with 
your  eyes)  that  will  tell  you  thev  believe  all  the  articles  of 
the  creed,  and  they  have  been  baptized  into  the  Chrifcian 
faith,  and  can  rehearfe  all  the  principles  of  the.  Chriftian  re- 
ligion, and  perform  the  duty  of  Chriftians  in  going  to  church, 
laying  their  prayers,  and  giving  alms  too  it  mav  be;  they 
are  fuch  as  w'ouid  be  called  Chriftians,  thev  w^ouid  be  called 
Wy  vet  they  i^re  ?wt  redacned  from  their  lahi  conversations '^ 
for  what  makes  their  ihackies  and  fetters  about  them  ? 
When  their  old  mafter  bids  them  be  drunk,  they  will  be 
drunk ;  and  when  he  bids  them  commit  whoredom,  or  lie, 
or  cheat  their  neighbour,  they  will  do  it  :  You  do  believe 
the  devil  leads  you  to  this  ;  you  will  not  fay  the  Spirit  of 
Cod  led  you  to  it.  If  one  demand,  how  did  you  do  it  ? 
You  fav,  the  devil  prevailed  upon  me  :  What,  hath  the  devil 
pov/er  over  men  after  they  are  redeemed  ?  What  fort  of  re- 
demption is  this  ?  Then  comes  in  the  old  fhift  again,  we 
are  redeemed  from  the  punifament  of  our  fm,  but  not  from 
the  act  of  it. 

How  if  thofe  that  are  called  ranters  had  told  me  this  tale, 
it  had  been  like  them  ;  but  when  dodors  of  divinity  tell 
us  this  tale,  it  is  fo  unlike  divinity,  that  it  is  carnal^  fenfual 
and  devilifiu  To  tell  believers  they  are  redeemed  from  the 
punifliment  of  fm,  but  not  from  the  acl  of  fm  ;  that  this  is 
tlie  b-ncht  which  we  receive  from  Chrift's  fufferings ;  that 
wo  m.  '.v  fin  on,  free  coft  ;  that  there  is  no  guilt  contra&d 
by  it  J  will  any  man  or  woman,  that  underiland  they  have 
a  ffjul,    venture   their  immortal    fouls   on    this  divinity  ?    I 

hope 


'  fet  free  by  JeSUS   ChRIST.  28^ 

hope  not.  They  will  not  venture  their  foul  on  this  founda- 
tion-dodrine :  I  hope  God  will  awaken  the  confciencies 
of  people,  that  they  will  not  hazard  their  fouls  upon  fuch  a 
carnal,  devilifh  foundation  ;  that  if  the  devil  ihould  preach, 
he  could  not  preach  a  worfe  dodrine  than  this,  to  pcrfuade 
Chriftians  they  may  Uve  in  fin,  and  fin  will  not  hurt  them, 
nor  impair  or  break  their  peace  with  God,  and  recon- 
ciliation with  him. 

I  will  tell  you  how  it  hath  been  with  me  ;  in  my  child- 
hood, if  I  had  fpoken  a  vain  word,  or  a  falie  word,  I  had 
contraded  fuch  a  guilt  thereby,  that  I  was  afiiamed  to  draw 
near  to  God,  to  pray  to  him  ;  I  knew  he  would  not  hear 
liars,  I  knew  there  was  no  way  to  be  accepted  without 
repentance  and  amendment  of  life.  I  believe  others  have 
met  with  the  fame  dealing  from  God,  by  the  fecret  ftrokes 
of  convidion  that  have  come  upon  their  hearts,  when  they 
have  finned  againfi:   God. 

So  that  I  am  ilill  of  the  mind,  that  the  perfons  that 
depend  upon  this  kind  ofdodrine,  do  at  fometimes,  efpe- 
cially  when  ficknefs  comes,  and  death  looks  them  in  the 
face,  or  in  times  of  common  contagion  or  peftilence,  at 
fuch  a  time  they  have  a  weight  of  guilt  upon  their  con- 
fciences;  for  thi's  doclrine  will  not  fupport  them  at  death, 
but  that  then  they  believe  they  have  contracted  guilt,  or 
committed  fin. 

I  have  wilhed  many  times  that  the  Lord  would  open 
the  eyes  and  hearts  of  trie  people  of  this  city  and  of  this  na- 
tion," to  fee  how  miferably  they  have  ventured^their  fouls. 
Will  merchants  in  this  city  ever  venture  their  goods  at  fuch 
a  rate  as  men  commonly  venture  their  fouls  ?  What,  will 
they  venture  their  goods' in  a  fhip  without  a  bottom,  before 
fhe  goes  to  fea  ?  Now  this  dodrine  hath  not  a  foundation  ; 
fhall  I  believe  a  perfon  that  tells  me  I  do  not  contrad  guilt, 
when  I  feel  it  upon  my  heart  ;  when  I  commit  whoredom 
and  drunkennefs,  and  cheat  my  neighbours,  Ihall  any  ofie 
perfuade  me  that  I   do  not  contrad  guilt  ? 

O  friends !  we  are  fpeaking  of  great  matters  ;  it  is  about 
eternity,  that  we  are  fpeaking,  it  is  about  the  hazard  of 
cternaf  happinefs  ;  therefore  I  pray,  let  every  one  be  ferious, 
and  confider  what  I  fay,  for  I  fpcak  in  God's  name,  and  on 

vour 


2S4  Captive  Sinners 

your  behalf:  Men  are  to  come  to  a  true  fearch  in  them- 
i elves,  what  a  hfe  it  is  that  they  live.  Many  fupport  them- 
felves  by  the  doBri?ies  and  precepts  of  ?nen^  and  they  buoy 
themfelves  into  conceits  of  falvation  j  let  them  examine 
whether  it  be  a  life  that  hath  its  fupport  from  rhe  Spirit 
of  God  ;  this  is  material  for  every  one  to  confider.  There 
are  none  can  live  to  God,  but  by  the  life  they  receive 
from  God ;  the  grace  of  God,  which  bringeth  falvatlGn^ 
hath  appeared  to  all  men.  Now  here  is  an  univerfal  doc- 
trine. 

There  are  a  fort  of  men  in  this  city  and  nation  that  tell 
us,  that  faving  grace  is  given  only  to  the  eled.  Saving 
grace  is  given  to  all  men  ;  but  you  muft  confrrue  thofe 
words,  all  the  ele^fy  where  they  are  fomev/hat  injurious, 
and  ^c('ould  caft  off  the  condition  of  the  text,  if  they  make 
a  diftindion  in  the  latter  part  of  the  fentence,  for  it  will 
not  be  good  fenfe :  The  grace  of  God  that  bringeth  fal- 
'■jation,  hath  appeared  to  all  the  elect,  teaching  us  to  deny  all 
-iingodlinefs^  &c.  Here  is  us  taken  out  of  the  all.  The 
fame  grace,  that  is  our  teacher,  appears  to  be  the  teacher 
of  others,  though  they  turn  it  into  lafavioufnefs.  The 
grace  is  the  fame,  though  they  make  many  fchool-diflinc- 
tions  between  common  and  faving  grace.  The  apoftle  ex- 
plains it,  by  telling  what  grace  he  means ;  the  grace  of 
God,  which  bringeth  falvation,  appeareth  to  all  men,  and  that 
is  by  teaching  us ;  what  doth  it  teach  ?  1  pray  conllder  it  ; 
it  teacheth  us  to  deny  all  nngodlinefs  and  all  worldly  hifts^ 
and  to  live*  foberly,  righteonfly  and  godly  in  this  prefenp 
world,  Where  is  fm  now,  if  a  man  be  taught  by  this 
grace,  and  the  diclates  of  it.  Can  a  im.n  live  in  lin,  and 
vet  live  righteoufly,  foberly  and  godly  too  ?  Can  a  man 
live  in  fm,  and  yet  deny  all  ungodlinei's  at  the  fame  time  ? 
W'hcre  have  men's  underftanding  been,  that  cannot  under- 
ihnd  their  mother  tongue,  and  confider  fenfe  ?  Where  are 
men's  underftandings  that  will  fay,  I  may  deny  all  nngod- 
linefs and  worldly  lifts,  and  yet  follow  the  lulls  of  my 
own  heart?  You  would  think  I  fpeak  nonfcnfeifl  ihould 
fpeak  thus  ;  and  yet  we  have  been  put  off  with  fuch  nonfen- 
ii'ral  fluff  as  this.  We  muft  pray  to  God  to  fend  his  holy 
Spirit  into  cur  hearts^  to  enable  us  to  live  godly,   righteous 

and 


fet  free  by  Jesus  Christ.  28^ 

nnd  foher  llveSy  and  at  the  fame  time  believe  that  we  fhall 
never  do  it,  but  that  it  is  a  bufinefs  of  impofTibiUty. 

Now  when  men  come  to  lay  thefe  things  together,  and 
when  they  confider  between  God  and  their  own  fouls, 
how  it  is  with  them,  many  are  amazed  to  think  they 
fhould  ever  be  put  off  with  fuch  incongruous,  difagreeing, 
and  diifonant  things,  that  are  not  confiftent  with  one 
another. 

But  do  you  think  it  is  pofTible  for  any  man  to  live 
without  fm  ?  Yes,  or  elfe  I  would  fay  it  is  impoffible  for 
any  to  be  reconciled  to  God  ;  for  God  will  never  be  re- 
conciled to  finners,  as  fuch  j  for  his  bargain  and  covenant 
is  made  of  fuch  kind  of  articles.  Wajh  ye,  make  ye  clean^ 
put  aivay  the  evil  of  your  doings  from  before  inlne  eyes, 
Ceafe  to  do  evil  ;  learn  to  do  well,  dec.  Then  9^me  and 
let  us  reafon  together,  faith  the  Lord  ;  tho*  your  fins  be  as 
fcarlet,  they  fliall  be  as  ivhite  as  fnoiv  ;  tho'  they  be  red 
as  crinifon,  they  fliall  be  as  ivool^  Ifaiah  i,  16,  ty  ;  fliill 
thefe  are  the  terms,  put  away  the  evil  of  your  doings,  then 
patience,  mercy  and  long-fuffering,  fhall  be  extended  to 
you  j  God  will  give  grace  and  glory y  and  no  good  thing 
will  he  withhold  ;  what,  from  thofe  that  fay  their  prayers, 
or  go  to  the  church  or  meeting  ?  No,  but  but  no  good 
thing  will  he  withhold  from  them  that  walk  uprightly  ^ 
Plal.   Ixxxiv,   II.     Thefe   are  the  men. 

And  when  the  Lord  diftinguifhes  by  his  prophet  whom  he 
would  have  among  them,  he  fpeaks  of  a  fort  of  people 
that  called  upon  the  name  of  the  Lord  ;  thofe  that  feared 
the  Lord,  and  fpake  often  one  to  another  ;  that  is,  of  the 
goodnefs  of  God  j  they  were  a  fort  of  people  that  trem^ 
bled  at  the  ivord  of  Gcd  ;  a  fort  of  people  that  did  not 
do  as  others  did,  hunt  after  pleafures,  riches,  and  the  ho- 
nours of  the  world,  but  to  be  acquainted  with  the  inv/ard 
word  that  wrought  upon  their  hearts  ;  in  that  day  that 
I  make  up  my  jewels^  they  fliall  be  mine,  faith  the  Lord. 
Whofe  fhall  the  others  be  ?  Thou  wilt  own  thefe  for  thine, 
but  whofe  fhall  the  others  be,  that  think  not  upon  thy 
name,  and  tremble  not  at  thy  word  ?  There  is  a  place 
for  them  too  :  Tophet  is  prepared  of  old,  made  both  wide 
and  large  ;   the  fuel  thereof  is  fire  and  brimjione,  and  muck 

vjood, 


2S6  Captive  Sinners 

ivood,   and  the    breath   of  the  Lord  lundleth  it.     This  Is  for 

all  that  are  wicked,    and  that  work  iniquity. 

This  is  in  the  Old  Teftament  ;  then  comes  the  New 
Teftament,  in  Johns  Revelations  ;  there  is  afeparation  again  ; 
There  are  a  fort  of  people  which  are  called  the  true  worihip- 
pers,  and  the  angel  was  commanded  to  go  and  meafure  the 
temple,  and  thole  that  worihipped  therein  :  The  outward 
temple  was  not  meafured,  but  left  for  the  Gentiles  to  tread 
in,  and  left  without  the  meafure  ;  for  ivithoiit  are  dogs  and 
forcerers,  and  ivhoremongers^  and  murderers,  and  Idolaters^ 
and  zvhofoever  loveth  and  maketh  a  lie.  And  then  the  Lord 
fpeaks  to  his  prophets  in  the  Old  Teftament  again  -,  if  thou 
pit  a  dijference  letiveen  the  precious  and  the  vile,  then  thou 
jlialt  be  as  my  mouth  unto  them  ;  but  if  thou  huddle  them 
altoi^ether,  and  fevj  pillovjs  under  elbows,  then  thou  (halt 
not  be  as  my  mouth. 

So  that  in  all  ages  God  aimed  at  a  feparation  of  the 
flate  and  condition  of  his  people  ;  and  one  fort  of  people 
were  purified,  through  the  fanclification  of  the  Spirit,  and 
belief  of  the  truth  ;  and  another  fort  were  unfanctified  and 
unpurified,  and  remained  in  their  fin  ;  and  the  end  of  Chrift's 
coming  into  the  world,  it  was  to  call  people  to  repen- 
tance ;  he  came  not  to  call  the  righteous,  but  ftnners  to  re- 
pd';2?^;^f^,  and  to  leave  oft  their  fin.  To  as  many  as  received 
him,  to  them,  he  gave* povjer  to  become  the  fons  of  God,  to 
as  m.any  as  believed  on  his  name.  Whofe  fons  were  the 
other  ?  Thev  made  as  high  a  rattle  of  profeifion  as  the 
other:  He  tells  them  who  is  their  father,  you  are  of  your 
father  the  devil ;  and  he  did  orderly  prove  it,  and  that 
was  thus ;  that  they  did  the  devil's  works,  ergo,  they  were 
the  devil's  children.  It  was  Chrift  himfelf,  the  greateft 
dodor  of  divinity  that  ever  was  in  the  world,  that  fpake 
thefe  words  :  And  this  is  the  manner  of  logic  v/hereby  he 
argues  with  the  Pharifees,  to  make  them  believe  that  they 
were  the  devil's  children  ;  they  that  do  the  devil's  works 
are  the  devil's  children  j  but  you  do  his  works,  therefore 
you  are  his  children  ',  fo  they  fought  to  kill  him,  they  could 
not   bear  fuch  arguments. 

If  one  fhould  go  and  fearch  out  a  people  in  this  city 
and  nation,  and  iee   one  man  of  this  religion,  another  of 

that 


fet  free  by  Jesus  Christ.  28y 

that  religion,  and  pick  them  out,  and  ufe  this  argument 
\x/ith  them  :  There  is  a  man  profeiTeth  high,  he  profefieth 
a  hght  within  ;  if  you  look  upon  his  deeds  they  are  dead 
and  dark,  why  then  he  is  one  of  the  devil's  children  :  If 
you  put  me  to  prove  this,  I  fay  he  doth  the  deviKs  works, 
he  is  an  extortioner,  a  deceiver,  and  a  drunkard  and  unclean 
perfon,  and  doth  the  devil's  works,  and  fo  is  none  of  God's 
children.  And  fo' go  to  another  fort  and  ufe  this  argu- 
ment, it  is  fafe  enough,  you  can  never  fiil  in  this  kind  of 
argument  which  Chriil  ufed;  and  if  people  would  ufe  it 
with  themfelves,  and  think  themfelves  no  better,  then  we 
fhould  have  people  confefs  themfelves  the  devil's  children. 

None  come  to  be  God's  children,  till  they  come  to  ac- 
knowledge their  loft  eftate,  their  deplorable  condition  ; 
that  they  are  fallen  from  God,  and  through  fm  and  ini- 
quity are  got  into  a  nature  that  is  at  enmity  with  God  ; 
then  thev  will  crv  out,  ivlio  fkall  deliver  me  from  this  bo- 
dy of  death,  and  childfhip  of  fatan,  this  heirfhip  of  wrath  ? 
I  am  an  heir  of  an  inheritance  ;  I  am  an  heir  of  wrath,  and 
I  would  fain  part  with  this  inheritance  and  heirlhip,  and 
have  an  inherita?ice  ivith  the  faints  in  light  :  We  fhall 
never  know  this,  till  we  come  to  divinity  without  fophi- 
ftry,  and  without  tricks  and  quirks,  and  come  to  Chrift's 
reafoning.  He  that  doth  the  devil's  work  is  the  devil's 
child  ;  then  they  will  confefs  this  is  of  the  devil,  and  the 
other  is  of  the  devil.  This  is  an  evil  work  ;  and  I  fee 
that  I  have  need   to   be   brought   into  another  condition. 

X^hen  people  come  to  an  acknowledgment  of  the  truth, 
and  of  their  own  condemnation,  then  they  are  one  ftep 
towards  redemption  and  falvation.  No  one  ever  took  a  ftep 
towards  their  falvation,  till  they  acknowledged  their  own 
condemnation.  He  that  fanBifes,  and  they  that  are  fanc- 
tifiedy  are  all  of  one  ;  and  they  that  are  joined  to  the 
Lord,  are  one  Spirit,  An  evil  tree,  faith  Chrift,  cannot 
bring  forth  good  fruit,  WYicn  Chrift  fpake  this,  he  fpake 
it  to  men  and  women,  and  he  fpake  it  of  men  and  wo- 
men,  and   not  of  trees  :     And  when  he  faid 


no   man  can 


gather  grapes  of  thorns,  nor  figs  of  thiftles,  he  fpeaks  of  a 
generation  of  men  :  As  if  he  had  faid,  this  thorn  muft 
be  tranflated  and  changed  into  another  nature  before  it  can 

bring 


:iS8  Captive  Sinners     . 

bring  forth  grapes  ;  and  this  thiftle  muft  be  changed  into 
another   nature   before  it   can    bring  forth   figs. 

There  muft  be  a  change  in  the  nature  of  man  before 
there  can  be  a  change  of  the  fruit  and  cfFecl  of  his  do- 
ings ;  ivhatfoever  he  foivs^  that  he  fliall  alfo  reap  ;  what- 
foe'-jer  a  man  doth  in  the  body,  he  intift  give  an  account 
thereof  at  the  day  of  judgment  ;  for  the  hooks  ivill  he  open- 
ed, and  rneyi  fudged  according  to  the  things  ivritten  in  thofe 
books.  If  there  be  a  book  for  thee  and  me,  I  will  war- 
rant thee  there  is  a  great  deal  in  it  ;  there  is  a  recorder 
and  a  clerk  for  the  book,  which  God  hath  opened  in 
every  man's  confcience  ;  and  there  is  fet  down  every  man's 
tranigreffions  and  his  fins  :  Saith  one,  thou  hafl  ivrittert 
my  tranfgrejjlons  as  with  the  point  of  a  diamond  ;  thou 
haft  engraven  it  fo  deep,  that  it  fcems  impoftible  that  it 
(hould  eva*  be  blotted  out  again  :  Some  have  had  their 
fins  fo  deeply  engraven  in  their  confcience,  that  they  have 
thought  they  would  never  be  blotted  out,  they  were  writ- 
ten as  with  the  pen  of  a  diamond. 

When  people  fee  and  confider  that  they  have  ventured 
their  fouls  upon  fuch  flight  grounds,  I  hope  they  will  be 
awakened  to  feek  after  riG;hteoufnefs  ',  when  they  fee  there 
is  nothing  good  in  them  :  Where  there  is  any  thing  good, 
it  is  God  that  hath  given  it  to  them.  Some  will  fay,  if 
I  be  perverfe,  corrupt  and  wicked,  I  cannot  help  it,  there- 
fore I  muft  be  beholden  to  my  Maker  to  help  me,  elfe  I 
muft  never  be  helped.  Now,  becaufe  God  knows  that  we 
are  helplefs,  he  hath  laid  help  upon  one  that  is  mighty,  that 
is,  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  y  and  Chrift  hath  fent  forth  his 
Spirit  into  the  world  to  co7ivince  the  world  of  fin,  a7id  to 
lead  his  people  into  all  truth  :  And  this  grace  that  comes 
by  Jefus  Chrift  hath  been  fo  univerfally  ftiewed,  and  fo 
univerfally  extended  to  all  men,  that  I  never  met  with  a 
man  yet  that  had  none  of  it :  But  let  them  be  as  bad  and  as 
dark  as  they  could,  yet  the  light  of  Chrift  lliined  in  that 
darkncfs,  into  the  darkeft  heart,  that  ever  I  met  with  in  all 
my  life  :  He  fheweth  m^en,  that  his  light  Jlnneth  in  dark- 
nefsy  and  the  darknefs  cannot  co?nprehend  it. 

Therefore  the  work  that  God  hath  fet  us  about,  and 
the  fervice  which   he   requires    at    the  hands  of  many    of 

us. 


fet  free  hy  JeSUS   ChRIST,  28c} 

Us,  is  to  turn  men  from  their  own  darknefs  unto  the  light  of 
Chrift  their  Saviour,  and  from  the  devil's  power,  that  hath 
enflaved  them,  to  the  power  of  God  that  can  redeem 
them  ;  and  yet  we  are  far  enough  from  that  which  they 
call  free  ivill  ;  it  is  God's  will  t/mt  every  one  fhould  be 
faved  :  But  fome  will  not  be  faved,  they  will  keep  their 
own  wills  and  not  refign  them  up  to  God  ,•  they  have 
•a  free  will  to  go  to  deftrudion.  As  for  falvation,  if  they 
will  obtain  it,  they  muft  part  with  their  own  wills,  and 
they  muft  take  a  yoke  and  burthen  upon  them,  before 
they  can  be  faved  :  If  people  can  have  their  wills,  they 
will  not  take  Chrift's  yoke  upon  them  :  He  that  will  be 
Chrift's  difciple  muft  deny  his  own  will  and  take  up  his 
daily   crofs  ^  thefe   are  the  terms   of  the  gofpel. 

But  you  will  fay,  no  man,  by  all  the  power  he  hath, 
can   redeem  himfelf,  and  no  man   can   live  without  ftn. 

Wc  will  fay  amen  to  it  :  But  if  men  tell  us,  that  when 
Gods  power  comes  to  help  us,  and  to  redeem  us  out  of 
fin,  that  it  cannot  be  effed:ed,  then  this  dodrine  we  can- 
not away  with,  nor  I  hope  you  neither.  W'^ouid  you  ap- 
prove of  it  if  I  Ihould  tell  you,  that  God  puts  forth  his  pow- 
er to  do  fuch  a  thing,  but  the  devil  hinders  him  ?  That 
it  is  impoflible  for  God  to  do  it,  becaufe  the  devil  doth 
not  like  it  ?  That  it  is  impoffible  that  any  one  Ihould  be 
free  from  fin,  becaufe  the  devil  hath  got  fuch  a  power  in 
them,  that  God  cannot  caft  him  out  ? 

This  is  lamentable  dodrine :  Hath  not  this  been  preached, 
this  dodrine  of  impoflibility  of  living  without  ftn  ?  It  doth 
in  plain  terms  fay,  though  God  doth  interpofe  his  power 
it  is  impoflible,  becaufe  the  devil  hath  fo  rooted  fin  in 
the  nature  of  man.  Is  not  man  God's  creature,  and  can- 
not he  new-make  him,  and  caft  fin  out  of  him  ?  If  you 
fay  fin  is  rooted  deeply  in  man,  I  fay  fo  too  5  yet  not 
fo  deeply  rooted  but  Chrift  Jefus  is  entered  fo  deeply  in- 
to the  root  of  the  nature  of  man,  that  he  hath  received 
power  to  deftroy  the  devil  and  his  works,  and  to  recover 
and  redeem  man  into  his  primitive  nature  of  righteouf- 
nefs  and  holinefs  ;  or  elfe  it  is  falfe,  that  he  is  able  to 
fave,  to  the  uttermofl^  all  thai  come  unto  God  hy  htm.  \)7e 
muft  throw  av/av  the  bible,  if  we  fay  that  it  is  impoHi- 

O  o  bk: 


2^0  Captive  Sinners  fet  frte,  Sec. 

ble  for  God  to  deliver  man  out  of  fin.  Is  not  Chrift 
entered  into  the  root  of  our  nature  ?  And  hath  he  not 
taken  upon  him  the  feed  o£  Abraham,  after  the  flefh  ?  Hath 
he  not  entered  into  the  root  of  all  men's  natures,  and  tajied 
death  for  every  nia7ij  that  he  might  quicken  eijery  one  that  ^ 
is  dead  in  fins  and  trefpajfes  ?  All  thefe  things  fpeak  the 
love  of  God  to  mankind,  in  order  to   their  falvation. 

Much  might  be  faid  to  there  things,  thefe  clouds  of  error 
and  darknefs  that  have  overspread  the  nation  ;  yet,  this  I 
fay,  if  one  were  to  fpeak  of  it  ever  fo  long,  it  mull:  be 
by  the  eye  that  God  gives  you,  that  vou  m.uft  fee  it  ',  it 
is  he  that  opens  the  hearts  of  men  as  he  did  Lydia's  :  If 
there  had  not  been  the  power  of  God  that  reached  her  heart, 
Paul  could  not  have  opened  it. 

^Fhen  all  is  faid  that  can  be  faid,  the  counfel  of  God 
which  hath  founded  in  your  ears,  is  recommended  to  you, 
that  every  one  may  retire  in  quietnefs  and  fiilnefs  of  mind 
to  wait  fov  the  feeling  of  that  quickening  power  of  the 
Spirit  of  ChriPt  that  is  fent  into  the  hearts  of  men  ;  that 
it  may  open  your  eyes  to  fee  your  prefent  ftatc  ;  then  you 
will  fee  a  better  flate,  a  further  ftate,  and  when  you  fee 
with  your  inward  eye  that  your  flate  is  not  fo  good  as 
vou  would  have  it  to  be,  then  iruft  and  rely  upon  the  all- 
ruificicnt  and  powerful  operation  of  God's  Holy  Spirit  to 
mend  your  ftate,  and  give  you  power  over  your  corrup- 
tions, and  to  go  on  from  one  ftep  to  another,  towards 
the  cieanfijfg  and  fandification  of  your  fouls,  fo  that  vou 
may  receive  fomething  from  God  to  enable  you  to  live 
to  God  ,•  for  all  that  you  receive  from  men  will  only- 
make  you  live  to  men,  but  that  which  you  receive  from 
God,  v/ill  help  you  to  live  to  God  ;  that  will  purify 
vou  and  fanclifv  you,  and  make  you  clean  through  the  word : 
So  through  the  word  you  will  come  to  cleannefs,  purity 
and  holinefs  :  And  when  you  are  come  to  the  way  of  holi- 
nefs,  you  may  believe  you  have  got  mto  the  way  of  God's 
kingdom,  and  never  till  then. 

It  is  not  enough  to  make  a  profeffion,  but  we  muft  live 
up  to  the  profeffion  of  that  religion  that  we  make  y  it  is 
not  holding  this  tenet  and  the  other  tenet,  and  faying,  this 
rainificr,  1  am  fure,    preacheth  the  truth  j  thou  mayeft  be 

a 


The  Sheep  of  Christ  hear  his  Voice,  opi 

a  child  of  the  devil  for  all  that.  I  now  (peak  indilFercntly 
to  all  people,  without  refped:  to  any  fort :  Thev  that  be- 
lieve they  are  waHking  towards  the  kingdom  of  God,  and 
yet  their  "way  is  not  a  holy  way,  they  have  cheated  them- 
felves,  and  deceived  their  own  fouls,  and  they  had  need  look 
about  them  and  take  heed  what  they  do  ^  the  glafs  is  run- 
ning, and  time  is  hading  away,  and  our  life  maj  end  we 
know  not  how  foon.  It  is  good  to  prize  and  improve  time, 
while  you  have  it,  and  bring  your  deeds  to  the  light ;  fee 
what  reproofs,  inftrudions,  counfels  and  openings  you  have 
met  with  from  the  Lord,  and  fee  how  you  have  anfwered 
and  been  obedient  to  them,  and  fo  you  will  come  to  take  a 
found  and  infallible  account  of  your  cor^dition  ;  and  if  it  be 
not  To  good  as  it  ihould  be,  wait  upon  the  Lord  to  mend  it  ; 
he  that  made  you  can  mend  you,  he  that  made  your  ears, 
muft  unflop  your  ears  to  hear  the  word  of  God. 

To  that  power  that  carries  on  the  works  of  fandification 
and  redemption  by  his  word,  to  that  word  I  muft  leave  vou, 
and  to  his  fpirit  I  commit  you.  This  word  will  be  with 
you,  and  if  you  part  not  with  it,  it  will  not  part  with  you  ; 
it  will  go  with  you  to  your  houfes,  and  to  your  lliops,  and 
to  your  beds  ;  it  will  lie  down  with  you  at  night,  and  rife 
with  you  in  the  morning  :  To  that  end,  Chrift  is  a  leader 
and  governor,  and  the  captain  of  our  falvation,  to  lead  the 
van,  and  carry  you  on  in  the  way  of  falvation  ;  and  as  ma- 
ny as  follow  Chriji,  and  arc  led  by  the  fpirit  of  God,  they 
are  the  children  of  God. 

SERMON     XXV.    ^ 

The  Sheep  of  Christ  hear  his  \^ce. 

"Preached  at  DEVON SHlRE-HouSEy  May   lo,   1688, 
My  flieep  (faith  the  true  fhepherd)  hear   my   voice, 

THE  (heep  of  the  true  fold  hear  the  voice  of  Chrift,  the 
good  fhepherd,  and  know  the  voice  of  ftrangers  too  : 
But,  faith  he,  the  ftranger  they  ivlll  not  follow.     This 
fcripture  hath  been  a  mark  of  diftindion  in  all  ages,    that 

hath 


zgz  The  ShEEP  of  C JURIST  hear  his  VoiCE, 

hath  been  pecuUariy  beftowed  upon  the  people  of  God, 
that  they  have  had  a  difcerning  knowledge  to  make  a  certain 
diftinction  between  them  that  were  of  God,  and  thofe  that 
were  of  the  world  :  Now  they  that  are  of  God  hear  lis,  faith 
the  apoule. 

Now,  that  you  may  all  find  in  yourfelves  this  peculiar  gift 
of  God,  to  be  able  to  underftand  and  difcern  between  the 
frecious  and  the  vile,  that  you  might  know  the  miniftration  of 
life  from  the  miniftration  of  death,  you  muft  all  be  gathered 
inwardly  into  that  which  you  have  received  of  God  ;  for 
they  that  are  only  exercifed  with  gifts  and  parts,  and  ac- 
quirements that  appertain  to  this  world,  they  have  been 
always  fubjed:  to  delufions,  apt  to  be  led  away  into  a  by- 
path and  crooked  way,  that  leads  to  deflruclion  :  But  they 
that  are  under  the  government  and  direction  of  the  gift 
of  God,  they  have  been  able  thereby  to  make  fuch  a  dif- 
tindrion  of  voices,  and  of  founds,  that  they  have  been  pre- 
ferved  from  the  delufions  of  the  age. 

This  was  the  difference  of  old  between  the  prophets  of 
God  and  the  falfe  prophets,  between  the  apoftles  of  our 
Lord  Jefus  Chdft,  and  the  falfe  apoftles ;  the  difference 
was  not  fo  much  in  their  words,  for  they  had  in  a  great 
raeafure  the  fame  words  ;  if  the  true  prophets  ufed  to  fay, 
thus  faith  the  Lord,  the  falfe  prophets  would  fay  fo  too ;  if 
the  true  prophets  declared  againft  fm,  the  falfe  prophets 
likewise  would  do  fo  ;  for  the  falfe  prophet  ftole  his  word 
from  his  neighbour :  But  the  greater  matter  by  which  the 
people  of  the  Lord  were  preferved,  was,  that  hidden  and 
divine  wifdom  they  received  of  God,  by  which  they  dif- 
cerned  the  voice  of  the  fpirit  from  the  voice  of  ftrangers, 
from  the  voice  of  them  that  were  of  the  flefh ;  and  that 
was  the  caufe  that  the  Chriftians  in  the  primitive  days  did  not 
adhere  to,  and  follow  thofe  falfe  apoftles  that  came  to 
them  in  their  own  names,  and  held  a  form  oj  godlinefsy 
but  denied  the  power   of  it. 

But  they  among  them  in  whom  their  witch-crafts  did 
enter,  they  went  away  from  the  fpirit,  and  fought  to  be 
viade  perfecl  in  the  fleJJi  ;  they  went  to  the  outward  ob- 
lervation,  and  to  the  beggarly  rudiments  of  things  that  pe- 
ri fh  with  the  tfftngy  and  from  the  law  of  the  fpint  of  life 
in   Chrifl  Jefus,    *"  And 


The  Sheep  of  Christ  hear  his  Voice.  2g^ 
And  as  it  hath  been  in  thofe  ages  of  which  we  have  read. 
To  it  comes  to  pafs  in  this  our  age,  in  which  a  difpenfation 
of  the  fpirit  of  truth  is  manifefted  and  revealed  unto  the 
children  of  men  ;  there  is  a  remnant  that  have  received  the 
teftimony  of  eternal  life,  and  have  believed  the  teftimony, 
and  waited  on  him  of  whom  the  teftimony  is  born,  not  to 
have  life  by  the  teftimony,  but  to  have  life  in  him  ;  fo  they 
receive  their  life  by  the  miniftration  of  the  Spirit  of  Chrift, 
and  they  live  to  God,  and  others  who  have  received  no 
life  from  him,  but  have  a  life  in  the  words,  and  founds, 
and  noifes  and  terms,  and  diftinguilliing  phrafes  of  things, 
their  life  lies  there,  they  hve  not  to  God  but  to  themfelves, 
their  glorying  is  not  in  the  crofs  of  Chrift^  but  in  the  words 
and  outfide  of  things  ;  fo  that  every  one  had  need,  at  fuch  a 
time  as  this,  to  approve  their  hearts  unto  the  Lord;  who 
knows  the  infide  of  people's  profefTion,  the  infide  of  their 
religion,  that  knows  how  the  heart  is  concerned  towards 
God,  and  what  they  fay  and  do  upon  the  account  of  his 
fcrvice,  fo  that  all  that  are  met  together  might  come  to  re- 
ceive more  and  more  of  the  life  and  virtue  that  fandifies 
the  foul  of  him  that  receiveth  it. 

For,  alas!  my  friends,  it  is  not  the  gathering  together 
of  the  moft  excellent  words  about  religion,  and  about 
worfhip  and  fervice,  which  will  approve  any  man  in  the 
fight  of  Godj  that  is  but  the  painting  of  a  fepulchre,  and 
covering  the  rottennefs  that  is  in  many  ;  but  the  Lord  fees 
into  the  infide  of  every  profeflbr,  and  whofoever  names 
the  name  of  Chrifl  and  departeth  not  from  iniquity,  they  do 
but  take  his  name  in  vain,  and  contract  a  guilt  upon  their 
own  fouls  y  fo  that  every  one  that  feemeth  to  be  religious, 
ought  to  enquire  whence  their  profeflion  fprings ;  if  it 
fpjrings  from  a  real  pofeffion  of  a  meafure  of  that  which 
fandifies  the  Hfe,  and  fhews  itfelf  forth,  in  its  working  and 
operation,  many  times  abundantly  more,  than  it  doth  in 
word  and  profeffion  ;  it  manifefteth  itfelf  in  holinefs  and 
righteoufnefs,  to  the  honour  of  God  ;  it  is  the  aim  and  de- 
fign  of  all  fuch  to  exalt  the  name  of  him  whom  they  pro- 
fefs,  by  holinefs  and  righteoufnefs  fhining  forth  in  their 
works,  for  it  will  never  Ihlne  through  words  alone  ;  many 
good  words  may  be  fpoken,  yet  God  not  glorified,  but  his 

name 


2c)4        The  Sheep  of  Christ  hear  his  Voice: 
name  may  be  difhonoured  by  them  ;  but  whofoever  comeJ 
to  feel  that  which  is  life  in  themfelves,  they  know  what  will 
honour  God,  they  feel  the  birth  immortal  that  is  of  God,  of 
his  own  begetting   by  the  word    of  truth. 

This  living  birth  is  that  which  brings  forth  living  praifes ; 
the  other  is  but  flefh,  that  vjklch  is  born  of  the  fleffi  isflepi, 
and  it  glorifies  the  flefh,  and  when  the  fielh  is  moft  of 
all  glorified,  mofl:  of  all  exalted,  it  is  then  but  as  the 
flovccr  of  the  field,  it  is  then  cut  do\v:i  and  ivithereth  ;  the 
fun  of  right eoufnefs  iuines  with  the  beams  of  the  ever- 
lafting  glory  of  God,  and  caufeth  it  to  wither  and  come 
to  naught, 

So  friends,  let  your  minds  be  gathered  inward,  that  you 
may  be  able  in  your  own  felves,  by  virtue  of  the  divine 
gift  of  God,  to  diftinguilli  between  the  voice  of  the  true 
ihepherd,  and  the  voice  of  a  ftranger,  fo  that  your  minds 
may  not  fellow  a  ftrange  voice,  that  you  may  follow  the 
Lord  v/ith  your  whole  heart,  with  a  full  purpofe  of  heart  ; 
for  there  is  a  real  word  of  prophcfy  difcovered  m  the 
inward  parts,  which  doth  diJHnguijh  between  the  precious 
and  the  vile  in  every  one's  particular  ;  and  that  which  is 
precious  in  one,  it  anfwereth  to  that  which  is  precious  in 
another  ;  and  that  which  is  vile  in  one,  it  anfwereth  to 
that  which  is  vile   in  another. 

For  there  is  an  inward  and  fccret  rnyftery  of  iniquity^ 
as  well  as  a  myftery  ofgodlinefs.  The  myfery  of  godlinefs 
is  when  God  is  manifefed  in  the  fie fh  ;  the  myftery  of  ini- 
quity is,  when  the  wicked  one  is  making  himfelf  manifeft, 
and  appears  and  difcovers  himfelf  in  the  fleih,  that  he 
may  rife  up  and  glory  in  the   flefh. 

Now  the  etetnal  truth,  which  never  changcth,  this  is  that 
which  giveth  a  difcerning,  this  hath  always  put  a  difference 
between  the  true  and  falfe  prophets,  the  true  and  falfe 
apoftles,  and  between  the  true  and  falfe  minifters  ',  the  dif- 
ference hath  not  been  fo  much  in  words  as  in  power,  as 
the  apoftle  fpeaks  concerning  fome  in  his  days,  that  had 
endeavoured  to  deceive,  and  to  draw  men  afide  from  the 
fimplicity  of  the  gofpel  ',  when  I  come,  faith  he,  I  will  knoiv. 
Now,  he  does  not  affert,  that  Ke  will  pay  particular  at- 
tention to  their  words,  whether  they  were  judicious  or  no ; 

for 


The  Sheep  of  Christ  hear  his  Voice,  2^^ 
for  he  fays,  I  will  not  know  their  words,  but  their  pow- 
er. How  (hould  he  know  their  power  if  he  were  not  in 
the  power  himfelf  ?  Now  this  divine  power,  as  every  one 
acquaints  himfeir  with  it,  it  worketh  unto  the  fandification 
of  them,  when  they  have  fellowdiip  with  the  ftirrings  and 
movings  of  all  others  that  are  partakers  of  it  :  This  is  that 
which  will  eftablifh  and  confirm  your  minds  in  the  true 
faith  and  fimplicity  of  the  truth,  that  you  turn  not  afide 
to  the  right  hand  or  to  the  left.  If  you  have  regard  to 
the  principle  of  divine  truth  that  you  have  received  from 
God,  then  you  can  receive  confirm.ation  from  any  one  that 
hath  a  meaiure  according  to  it.  There  is  a  meafuring  line^ 
and  the  reed  of  the  fanchuary^  that  ineaftireth  the  temple  and 
all  that  dvjell  therein^  that  meafures  them  with  one  reed 
and  one  meafure,  and  every  one  anfwereth  to  that  meafure, 
according  to  the  llature  and  degree  of  growth  of  the  grace 
of  God  they  arrive  to  ',  and  now  they  are  come  to  a  fixed 
foundation. 

Others  there  are  in  the  world,  that  have  laid  their  foun- 
dation upon  this  creaturcly  help,  and  the  other  creaturcly 
help,  upon  this  man,  and  the  other  man  ;  but  now  true 
Chriftians  come  to  have  their  foundation,  their  rooting 
and  building  upon  Chrift  Jefus,  upon  that  word  of  life 
that  firft  of  all  gathered  their  minds  into  a  defire  after  holi- 
nefs,  into  a  defire  after  acquaintance  with  God  that  made 
them. 

You  that  are  true  Chriftians  can  remember,  how  you  were 
begotten,  and  that  which  did  beget  you  j  that  word  of  God 
that  is  incorruptible,  that  is  immortal,  that  was  not  of  a 
dying  quality,  that  need  not  be  fupported  by  this,  and  that, 
and  the  other  means,  but  it  hath  its  fupport  in  itfelf,  it  hath 
its  nouriihment  in  itfelf,  and  it  grows  up  in  itfelf,  and  every 
one  that  receiveth  it  they  grow  up  in  it,  until  they  come 
more  and  more  to  partake  of  the  life  and  qualities'of  it  ;  that 
as  he  is,  fo  they  may  be  in  the  prefent  world. 

But  this  is  never  known,  but  where  the  word  of  God 
hath  its  free  paffage  :  Many  have  tafted  of  this  ivord  of 
God,  and  by  rafting  of  it,  have  been  acquainted  with  the 
poiver  of  the  world  to  come  ;  they  knew  well  enough  the 
power  that  would  bring  f^rth  another  world,  a  new  Hea- 

ijen. 


05/6  The  Sheep  of  Christ  hear  his  Voice* 
veny  and  a  new  earth,  and  righteournefs  in  it ;  many  have 
felt  the  power  that  have  never  continued  to  fee  the  work- 
ing of  it,  never  continued  to  fee  and  witnefs  what  this 
poVv^er  would  work  j  going  afide  from  the  power  of  the 
world  that  was  to  come,  they  have  never  feen  the  com- 
ing of  it,  but  their  fooliJJi  hearts  have  been  darkened  again^ 
and  their  imaginations  have  grown  vain,  and  they  have  con- 
ceived to  themfelves  a  falfe  liberty  to  the  flefh,  and  their 
wills  have  been  ftrong,  and  have  prevailed  over  them  j  that 
though  they  had  tailed  of  the  powers  that  did  belong  to 
the  world  to  come,  they  never  faw  the  working  and  ope- 
ration of  that  power  to  bring  to  pafs  that  which  by  fight 
and  vifion  they  did   behold. 

Therefore  it'  is  needful  for  every  one  of  you,  in  every 
ftate  and  condition  the  Lord  hath  brought  you  into,  to 
keep  vourfelves  in  a  deep  humility  ;  to  know  the  affiicti- 
ons,  temptations  and  trials  you  are  under,  and  to  exercife  your 
minds,  not  only  on  account  of  what  you  have  got  over,  but  let 
every  one  know  the  ftate  and  condition  in  which  at  pre- 
fent  they  are  labouring  ;  for  when  fome  come  to  look  at 
what  fuiferings  and  difficulties  they  have  got  over,  they 
are  apt  to  be'^exalted  above  meafure,  and  lifted  up  in  their 
minds  j  let  every  one  confider  what  is  their  prelent  ftate 
and  work  ',  their  help  lies  in  that  condition.  Some  have 
always  a  foundation  of  their  faith  prefent  with  them,  that 
they'  may  feel  the  objed  of  their  faith  where  they  hope 
for  help,  where  they  hope  for  comfort  and  ftrength  to  be 
prefent  with  them. 

Now  every  one  that  believeth  in  the  word  of  God,  their 
care  is,  that  they  may  know  this  word  of  God,  that  they 
may  hear  it,  feel  it,  and  behold  the  beauty  of  it  under  the 
exercifes  of  it  ;  how  it  conduds  and  leads,  how  it  coun- 
felleth  and  advifcth,  that  fo,  in  all  things  they  are  to  pafs 
through,  they  may  not  be  as  thofe  that  have  run  into  it ; 
as  thofe  that  do  this  and  that  of  their  own  wills,  but  may 
be  properly   followers   of  fomething. 

I  go  into  this,  or  that,  or  the  other  thing,  not  to  do 
mine  own  will  j  I  do  not  run  into  it,  but  I  am  led  into 
it  y  my  leader  goes  before  me,  the  word  of  God,  that 
-hath  conduded  me  and  led  me :   I  am  a  follower  of  God 

in 


The  Sheep  of  Christ  hear  his  Voice,         ^p^r 

in  all  his  difpenfations,  and  in  all  his  leadings  and  guid- 
ings  j  I  am  to  follow  him,  for  he  teacheth  me  his  v/ay, 
he  inll:ru<fleth  me  in  the  true  way  :  The  bePc  of  all  his 
fcholars  and  difciples,  they  are  to  be  led  and  guided  into 
that  work  and  fervice  they  are  to  do,  that  they  may  run  into 
no  irregularily  or  abfurdity,  for  he  will  lead  you  into  holinefs, 
righteouihefs  and  humitity,  where  all  become  the  lervants 
of  God  in  Chriil:  Jcius,  and  fervants  to  one  another  : 
There  is  a  mutual  concord  and  harmony  in  the  work  of 
this  fpirit,  in  the  fervice  of  this  power,  where  every  one 
finds  what  they  are  appointed  and  direded  to,  and  all  the 
members  of  the  body  of  Chrift  know  thev  ought  not  to 
be  disjointed  and  rent,  and  feparated  one  from  another, 
but  tied  together  in  joints  and  bands,  to  edify  one  another 
in  the  love  of  God ;  Co  that  here  is  one  fpirit  that  hath 
been  the  guide  of  this  one  people  in  all  ages. 

Many  people  have  been  guided  by  many  guides,  and 
they  have  been  fcattered,  divided  and  feparated  one  from 
another,  and  have  been  under  this,  that  and  the  other  name ; 
but  all  God's  people  have  been  guided  by  the  Spirit  of 
Chrift,  that  univerfal  Spirit  that  is  one  v/ith  God.  In 
the  Old  Teftament  times,  and  the  New  Teftament  times, 
they  were  all  led  by  the  univerfal  Spirit  of  Chrifr,  and 
they  were  of  one  heart,  and  of  one  mind^  ferving  the  Lord; 
there  was  a  concord  and  unity  among  them;  and  if  at  anv 
time  any  difcord  or  divifion  happened,  it  was  bccaufe  the 
roaring  lion  that  goes  about  continually  feeking  ivhom.  he 
may  devour^  had  found  fome  or  other  that  he  might  de- 
vour, and  draw  into  his  fnares  and  gins;  for  there  are 
fome  that  he  may,  and  fome  that  he  may  not.  "VS^'ho  are 
they  that  this  roaring  lion  may  defrroy  ?  The  devil  knov/s 
who  thofe  are  that  he  may  prevail  upon  ;  he  knows  that 
thofe  which  are  in  the  hands  of  God  are  out  of  his  reach : 
My  Father,  faith  Chrift,  is  greater  than  all,  and  none  fall 
pluck  them  out  cf  my  Father' s  hands  ',  yet  doubtlefs  thofe 
that  are  in  the  Father's  hands  are  tempted  and  tried,  the 
roaring  lion  goes  about  feeking  to  devour  them  if  he  might  ; 
a  man  tiiat  he  devours,  he  fwallows  up  with  prejudice, 
enmity,  covetoufnefs  and  pride,  and  he  v/ill  lead  him  into 
any  evil  thing;    he  hath  many  gulphs  to  fwallow   men   up 

P  p  in, 


^S)S         The  Sheep  of  Christ  hear  his  Voice, 
in,  but  if  lie  meet  with  one  that  is  kept  in  God's  handsj 
he  knows  fuch  a  one  is  out  of  his  reach,  and  he  is  not  r.ble 
to  catch  him. 

If  he  meet  with  a  man  that  he  can  prevail  over,  as  he 
did  over  our  father  Adam  and  mother  Ei.t,  fuch  as  are  in 
their  own  hands,  that  (land  upon  their  wit  and  parts,  and 
knowledge  and  eloquence  ;  thofe  that  (land  upon  thefc* 
things  as  their  foundation,  they  are  in  their  own  keeping; 
thefe  are  they  whom  he  may  devour  and  catch,  and  enfnare 
in  one  or  other  of  his  gins,  and  fwaliow  them  up  in  one  of 
his  gulphs  and  temptations  :  But  feeing  God  hath  opened 
and  manifefted  thefe  things  by  his  Spirit,  and  feeing  the 
fecret  wiles  of  fatan  are  difcovered  and  made  known  by 
the  Ihining-of  his  light,  how  ought  every  one  that  is  a  be- 
liever of  the  truth,  to  depend  upon  God  for  his  protedion, 
and  be  careful  that  he  goes  not  out  of  his  Father's  hands, 
that  he  never  trad  himlelf  to  his  own  keeping  for  his  fe- 
curity  and  prefervation,  left  he  meet  with  a  temptation 
that  may   Iwallow  him   and  devour  him. 

I  remember  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  v/hen  he  was  upon 
earth,  he  pur  bis  diK-iples  in  mind  of  what  happened  long 
before,  nnn^mher  Lot's  ivife  :  You  m^ay  take  notice  of  her, 
th^power  of  God  took  hold  of  her  and  brought  her  out  of 
Sodow,  and  was  leading  her  to  a  place  of  fafety,  but  Ihe  had 
jomething  of  Auinis  apoftacy  in  her  nature,  Ihe  looked 
back,  and  was  turned  into  a  pillar  of  fait.  Oiir  Saviour 
was  pjea-ed  to  make  ufe  of  this  paifage  that  happened  Ibme 
hundreds  of  years  before,  lo  lliew  how  fnc  failed  of  coming 
to  the  place  of  fafctv,  though  ilie  was  led  out  of  Sodom  by 
the  hands  of  one  of  the  angels  of  God.  Ol  remember  her, 
ihe  v/as  turned  into  a  pillar  of  fait,  and  this  remains  in- 
llructivc  to  this  day. 

If  we  remember  where  our  fafety  is,  and  from  whofe 
hands  we  muil:  exped  it,  we  need  not  go  to  look  at  Lot's 
wife.  Wq  have  feen  many  in  our  days  that  have  flood 
fair  for  redemption,  they  have  had  a  power  revealed  to 
them,  that  is  able  to  redeem  them,  and  fave  them  to  the 
utcermoft  ;  but  afterward  by  exalting  themfelves  above  this 
power,  and  taking  the  government  of  themfelves  into  their 
uvv'ii  hands,   they  have  robbed  God  of  his   glory,   and  he 

hath 


The  Sheep  of  Christ  hear  his  Voice*         2c^g 

hath  withdrawn  himfelf  from  them,  and  then  it  was  with 
them  as  with  Saul^  when  the  Lord  departed  from  him,  the 
evil  fpirit  entred  into  him. 

We  have  before  our  eyes  from  day  to  day,  thofe  that 
have  known  the  beginning  of  the  redemption  of  God's  pow- 
er, and  have  been  in  a  great  meaiure  brought  out  of  So- 
dom,  and  out  of  the  way  of  Bg^vpt,  and  they  have  had 
opened  to  them  the  myflery  of  the  kingdom  of  God  for  their 
encouragement,  but  at  laft  they  have  taken  and  arrogated 
thofe  gifts  to  themfelve^,  and  looking  upon  themfelves  as 
far  excelhng  others,  magnifying  their  parts  as  if  they  were 
their  own,  when  they  were  the  gifts  of  God.  Then  the 
Lord  hath  J  eft  them,  to  Jet  them  i'ee  whether  they  could  ftand 
of  them- elves,  and  they  have  faJlen,  and  been  taken  in  the 
gins  and  fnares  of  the  devil,  who,  like  a  roaring  lion^  is 
going  about  continually^  feeking  ivhom  he  may  devour. 

Now,  my  friends,  it  greatly  concerns  us  all  to  know 
what  refuge  we  have  to  fly  to,  in  a  time  of  trial  ;  we  have 
a  time  of  trial  now,  tho'  not  a  time  of  external  fuffer- 
ing  and  perfecution,  and  enduring  hardihip  yet  upon  us, 
to  try  our  faith  and  truft  in  God  ;  yet  we  have  no  reafon 
to  be  fecure,  carlefs  nor  remifs  in  our  prefent  duty,  nor 
to  put  the  evil  day  far  from  us,  but  to  be  in  the  exercife 
of  humility  and  watchfulnefs  as  becomes  Chriflians  j  for 
there  is  now  as  much  danger  and  peril  in  this  time  of  liberty 
and  tranquillity,  as  there  was  before. 

If  any  one  in  the  time  of  perfecution  and  fuffering  hath 
faid  within  himfelf,  I  had  better  give  over  and  part  with 
the  truth,  and  forfake  the  ways  of  the  Lord,  and  give  over 
my  teftimony  for  his  name,  for  I  ihall  be  undone  and  ruined 
in  the  world  ,  this  man  by  his  carnal  fears  hath  loft  his 
teftimony. 

So  hkewife  if  a  man  in  this  time  of  liberty  and  freedom 
of  ferving  the  Lord,  and  bearing  teftimony  to  his  name, 
if  he  fhall  not  entirely  truft  in  the  Lord,  to  carry  him  on 
in  his  work  and  fervice,  and  continue  his  dependence  upon 
him,  and  wait  for  the  aftlftance  of  the  Holy  Spirit  of  God 
to  work  in  him  to  ivill  and  to  do  of  his  good  pleajure,  this 
man  ihall  lofe  his  teftimony,  as  well  as  the  other  :  There- 
fore, let  every  one  of  you  keep  up  a  dependence  upon  God's 

Holy 


joo  The  Sheep  of  Christ  hear  his  Voice, 

Holy  Spirit  for  carrying  on  the  work  which  he  hath  begun 
in  your  fouls  j  confider  v/hat  work  it  is  that  Chrift  is  now 
at  in  every  one  of  you  ;  I  know  what  his  work  was  when 
I  was  firft  convinced,  he  was  burning  up  and  hewing  down 
every  thing  that  hindered  his  carrying  on  the  work  of  fanctifi- 
cation  and  redemption,  and  firmnefs  and  (lability  in  the 
covenant  of  life  and  peace. 

And  now  our  meeting  together  ought  to  be  in  the  n'ame 
of  Chrif!:  ;  I  hope  it  is  fo  with  moll:  of  you :  I  hope  it  is 
not  to  fee  and  hear  what  this  or  "that  man  faith,  but  to 
know  within  yourfelves  what  part  of  the  work  of  redemp- 
tion the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  is  carrying  on,  that  you  may 
join  with  him,  and  be  a  vcilUng  feople  in  the  day  of  his 
poiver,  and  fay  as  Patily  Lorcl^  ivhat  will  thou  have  me  do  ? 
it  thou  wilt  have  me  part  with  my  all.  Lord  here  it  is,  I 
Oiler  it  up  ',  and  if  thou  wilt  have  any  fervice  done,  Lord 
here  I  am,  fpeak,  for  thy  fervant  heareth  ;  let  there  be  in 
every  one  of  you  an  attentivenefs,  and  an  humble  waiting 
upon  the  Lord,  and  fay  as  the  Pfalmifl,  behold,  as  the  eyes 
vf  few  ants  lock  unto  the  hands  of  their  tnafters^  and  as  the 
eyes  of  a  maiden  unto  the  hands  of  her  mflrefs,  fo  our  eyes 
ivait  I'pon  the  Lord  our   God  until  he   have  mercy  upon  us. 

Whenever  a  Chriftian  hath  his  dependence  upon  God's 
wifdom  and  pov/er,  fuch  a  one  ihall  never  want  wiidom, 
the  Lord  will  give  him  wiidora  to  prelerve  him  againil: 
all  the  wiles  of  fatan  ;  and  he  Ihall  never  want  power,  for 
the  Lord  will  enable  him  to  fulfil  and  perform  what  he  re- 
ciuiredi  of  him  ;  he  (hall  be  repleniihed  with  judgment  and 
underRanding,  ability  and  power,  to  direct  him  into  the 
good  ways  of  God,  and  to  enable  him  to  walk  in  them. 

It  is  the  earneft  defu'e  of  my  ibul,  that  every  one  of  you 
may  be  exercifed  in  thofe  things  which  are  profitable  for 
}'ou,  and  which  may  be  comfortabie  to  your  friends  and 
brethren?  that  you  may  all  grow  up  into  a  ftability  and 
ftcdnutncrs  in  tbi-  good  ways- of  the  Lord,  that  you  may 
not  be  ihaken  and  toiTed  with  every  fcorm  and  tempefl:  j 
that  when  there  comes  a  time  for  the  trial  of  your  patience, 
and  fortitude  and  courage,  you  may  not  be  tcfied  to  and 
fro  like  children,  but  be  fedfajt  and  unmoveahle^  always 
abounding  in  the  work  cf  the  Lord,  that  fo  living  in  all  holy 

obedience 


iVv  ^dUE  Worship  ivlthout,  ^c.  joi 

obedience  and  patience,  and  contiiiuing  in  ivell-doing,  you 
may  have  a  conftant  fupply  of  ftrength  and  power  from 
God  miniftered  unto  you  by  his  Holy  Spirit. 

SERMON     XXVI. 

No  True  Worship  zuithout  the  Right 
Knowledge   of  God. 

"Preached  at    GRACE-CnuRCH-STREETy    May  24,    16BS, 

^iy  7riends^ 

^  I  1  HERE  is  no  man  can  truly  worfhip  God,  till  he  comes 
I  to  a  m.eafure  of  certain  knowledge  of  him  ;  for  all 
-^  the  woriliip  in  the  world  where  the  veil  of  igno- 
rance ftill  prevails  upon  the  m.ind,  is  all  abominable  ;  there 
is  no  acceptance  with  God  :  There  mufl:  be  a  knowledge 
of  God  before  there  can  be  a  true  worihipping  of  him  ; 
for  they  that  worfhip  before  they  know  God,  they  ivor- 
flip  they  no  not  ivhat  ;  they  worfhip  a  God  they  have  heard 
of,  but  do  not  know  ;  fo  every  one  that  would  be  a  true 
worfhipper,  muft  firfl;  come  to  that  which  giveth  a  true 
knowledge,  that  raifeth  up  a  certainty  in  the  mdnd,  this  is  the 
Lord,  we  will  triifl  in  him  ;  this  is  our  God,  and  ive  ivill 
ferue   him. 

And  that  all  people  might  come  to  this  certainty  of 
knowledge,  therefore  it  is  that  God  hath  fent  forth  his  Spirit, 
that  the  things  of  God  might  be  communicated  by  the  Spirit 
of  God,  for  without  the  affiftance  of  this  Spirit,  men  feek 
after  the  knowledge  of  God  in  vain  ',  if  they  feek  after 
the  knowledge  of  God,  they  cannot  find  it,  and  if  they 
feek  after  the  v/oriliip  of  God,  and  after  acceptance  with 
God,  they  cannot  find  it  ;  fo  that  all  religion,  and  religi- 
ous performances,  that  people  are  exercifed  in,  v/here  the 
fpirit  of  truth  hath  not  the  beginning,  they  will  all  prove 
fruitlefs  in  the  Qr\^. 

There  are  wife  men  in  the  world,   who  have   employed 

their 


i02  No  True  Worship  ivltJSut 

their  wifdom  to  find  out  the  true  God  ;  but  God  in  wif- 
dom  hath  ordained,  that  the  world  by  all  their  wifdom 
fliall  not  know  him  ',  To  there  is  an  end  of  all  their  labour  : 
How  fhall  they  know  him  then  ?  As  none  can  know  the 
things  of  a  man,  fave  the  fpirit  of  man  that  is  in  him^  Jo 
none  can  knovc  the  things  of  God,  but  the  Spirit  of  God  ; 
fo  that  they  that  refifc  the  guidance,  diredion  and  coun- 
fei  of  the  Spirit  of  God,  are  like  unto  thofe  that  would 
enter  into  a  houfe  or  palace,  and  remember  not  the  door 
that   leads    into   it. 

People  would  fain  come  into  the  divine  knowledge  and 
into  the  underftanding  of  divine  myfteries,  but  they  would 
come  by  it  another  way;  they  v/ould  ftudy  for  'it,  they 
would  learn  it  by  arts  and  fciences,  they  would  attain  it 
by  their  own  induftry  ',  and  herein  they  labour  to  excel 
one  another.  If  there  comes  a  man  among  them  that  tells 
them,  friends  you  are  all  out  of  the  way,  then  they  are 
angry,  and  inftead  of  enquiring  what  is  the  way,  they  are 
angry  that  their  way  mull:  be  rejeded.  Friencls,  you  will 
never  come  to  the  knowledge  of  God  but  by  the  Spirit 
of  God  ;  then  they  mock,  and  then  they  feoff  and  fcorn 
the  dodrine  of  the  Spirit,  for  the  teaching  of  the  Spirit 
hath  been  the  common  fcorn  and  derifion  of  our  age. 

It  is  fo  in  our  day  with  many  ;  if  they  cannot  come  to 
the  knowledge  of  God  any  other  way  but  by  the  Spirit, 
they  would  deny  to  make  ufc  of  that,  to'  be  fubject  to 
that,  and  thefe  put  their  truft  in  their  own  power  and 
induftry,  to  findout  the  myftery  of  the  knowledge  of  God; 
fo  they  are  ever  leamnig,  hut  are  never  able  to  come  to  the 
knowledge  of  the  truth  :  How  fhould  they  ?  How  can  a  people 
come  to  a  knowledge  of  the  truth,  without  the  fpirit  of  truth 
that  reveals  it  ?  Can  any  come  to  the  knowledge  of  Chrift; 
unlefs  he  that  fent  him  reveals  him  ?  Where  are  people's 
books  ?  where  are  their  bibles  ?  where  is  their  rule  (they 
call  it  fo  )  that  all  their  endeavours  for  many  ages  have 
proved   fruitlefs  in  refped  to  the  knowledge  of  God  ? 

This  is  but  your  fay  fo,  fome  may  fay;  how  doth  it 
appear  that  we  have  not  attained  to  the  true  knowledc^e 
of  God?  and  to  the  true  worfhip,  and  to  the  true  religion  ? 

I  will  tell  you  how  it  appears ;  for  all,  in  ail  ages,  that 

have 


the  Right  Knowledge  of  GOD,  ^oj 

have  attained  to  the  knowledge  of  God,  they  have  been 
made  partakers  of  his  divine  nature  and  his  divine  qualities; 
they  have  brought  forth  a  fort  of  fruit  in  their  lives  and 
converfations,  that  hath  been  of  the  fame  nature,  it  hath 
been  holy  and  divine.  They  have  known  the  fancfdfier, 
and  they  have  been  a  fan(5lified  people,  fo  they  have  become 
one  with  him,  and  have  fhewn  forth  the  beauty  of  holinefs 
in  their  lives,  that  is  a  demonftration  that  may  (hew  the 
knowledge  of  God,  for  without  it  they  live  another  life, 
an  unholy  one,  a  corrupt  one,  a  life  of  felf-love,  a  life  of 
pride,  vanity  and  enmity,  and  that  they  never  had  from 
God,  but  from  another  root  ',  a  hfe  of  iniquity  and  fin,  it 
came  from  another  feed  ;  fo  that  they  are  ftiil  without 
the  knowledge  of  God. 

And  again,  all  that  have  come  to  the  knowledge  of  God, 
they  have  trufted  in  him  ;  that  people  cannot  do  now-a- 
days,  except  here  and  there  a  few  that  do  know  him  ;  the 
generality  of  the  age  they  cannot  truft  God  ;  they  mud: 
have  fomething  elfe  to  rely  upon,  and  truft  tb,  for  in  him 
they  cannot  truft.  Now  the  Lord  faid  by  the  prophet  of 
old,  they  that  know  my  na^ne  ivill  trujt  in  me  ;  that  is  enough 
if  people  know  God,  luhom  to  know  is  eternal  life y  even  to 
knovj  thee  the  only  true  God,  and  Jefus  Chriji  whom  thou  haft 
fent :  This  is  life  eternal  ;  if  people  were  come  to  this 
divine  knowledge,  they  would  never  take  care  or  ftudy 
for  any  refuge,  or  fet  up  this,  or  that,  or  the  other  thing 
to  lean  upon.  A  rich  man  he  trufteth  in  his  riches,  one 
trufteth  to  one  thing  and  another  to  another,  but  they 
would  truft  in  the  living  God,  .and  he  ihould  be  their 
God  and  their  rock,  and  they  would  venture  their  con- 
cerns upon  him,  both  in  this  world  and  that  which  is  to 
come,  if  they  did  but  know  him.  People  may  talk  as  much 
as  they  will,  but  he  can  never,  properly,  be  faid  to  be 
my  God,  and  thy  God,  till  we  caft  our  care  upon  him, 
and  can  venture  our  concerns  upon  him,  both  in  this 
world  and  that  which  is  to  come  ;  and  can  fay,  he  is  our 
God,  and   our  reliance   and  dependence  is  upon  him. 

Now  this  is  the  eifesft  and  confequence  of  this  know- 
ledge of  God  ;  fuch  as  come  to  partake  of  it,  they  ftiali 
have  no  need  to  be  bid  to  worfhip  him.     You  ihall  have 

no 


^04  ATo  True  JI^orship  ivithont 

no  need  to  make  a  law,  that  this  people  ihall  worihip  the 
God  that  they  know  ;  there  needs  no  law  to  command  the 
people  of  God  to  v/orfnip  him  ;  his  laiu  is  ivritten  in  their 
hearts  ;  and  they  that  know  him,  will  worfhip  him.  There 
was  never  any  man  on  earth,  that  had  the  knowledge  of 
the  true  and  hving  God,  that  needed  be  put  upon  worfhip- 
ping  him,  that  needed  a  law  to  oblige  him  to  it ;  for  the 
very  knowledge  that  is  given  of  God  through  Chrift,  this 
brings  forth  naturally  an  adoration  of  the  invifible  power 
which  men  put  their  truft  in  ;  it  produceth  an  adoration  that 
is  true  worihip  j  it  cau^eth  an  humble  reverence  of  that 
power,'  it  brings  the 'foul  upon  its  knees,  as  it  were  j  it 
brings  the  foul  to  (loop  and  bend,  and  bow  upon  all  occafi- 
ons  to  God,  as  his  God  :  It  raifeth  his  expedations  to 
receive  counfel,  and  judgment,  and  underftanding,  from 
him,  as  the  fountain  of  wifdom  j  and  hereby  people  are 
taught  to  worfhip  in  the  right  divine  knowledge. 

But  to  tell  men  of  the  worfhip  of  God  before  they  know 
him  ;  though  you  make  as  many  laws  as  you  will  to  force 
them  to  worlliip  that  God  they  do  not  know,  yet  you  can 
never  do  them  any  good,  nor  make  their  worfhip  accep- 
table, nor  make  them  devout ;  you  can  never  bring  devo- 
tion, nor  divine  adoration  into  their  hearts,  by  all  the  laws 
that  you  can  make. 

But  there  is  a  fpirit  of  life  that  fets  the  foul  at  liberty 
from  its  former  bondage  to  fm  and  fatan  j  and  when  this 
law  comes  to  be  revealed  in  my  heart,  what  faith  this  law  ? 
W^orfliip  God,  give  honour  and  glory  to  him.  This  law 
faith,  fubmit  thyfelf  to  Jiim  that  redeemed  thee,  thou  art 
his,  thou  art  no'  more  thine  own  j  this  law  being  written 
in  the  heart  obligeth  a  man  to  a  true 'worfhip,  and  to  vjor/Jiip 
God  in  fpirit  ajid  truths  for  this  man  hath  done  imaginmg 
among  the  Heathen,  that  there  are  Gods  many,  and  Lords 
many  :  He  hath  done  imagining  what  God  is,  and  where 
he  is,  for  he  is  now  come  to  know  him  ;  he  is  inftructed 
beyond  the  bcft  fchoiar  in  Athens,  let  him  be  ever  fo 
mean  and  defpicable  in  the  v/orld  ]  if  it  be  ever  lo  poor 
a  lad  or  lafs,  they  are  beyond  the  beft  fchoiar  in  Athens  ; 
for  the  bell:  fchoiar  there  came  only  fo  far  as  to  contra- 
did  their  fellow  fcholars  :    Some  of  them  were  for  Mars^ 

and 


the  Right  Knowledge  of  GOD,  joj< 

and  fome  for  Jupiter,  fome  for  one  God  and  fome  for  ano- 
ther :  Thefe  fcholars,  by  fome  beam  of  divine  light  fhin- 
ing  in  them,  had  come  to  perceive  that  the  influences 
that  were  in  Mars,  Jupiter  and  Therms,  and  the  Sim  and 
Moon,  and  other  planets,  they  received  them  from  an  high- 
er power,  that  is,  God.  They  denied  not  that  thefe  pla- 
ets  had  power  and  influences  given  to  them  ;  fometimes 
they  are  called  heavenly  bodies  ;  the  sky,  or  canopy  of 
Heaven  ',  and  fun,  moon  and  fl:ars  are  called  heavenly  bodies, 
they  have  power  and  influences  ;  but  this  was  given  them, 
and  that  power  mufl:  be  greater  than  theirs  from  v/hom 
thev  receive  their  power,  virtue  and  influence,  even  that 
God  who  is  the  maker  of  all  things.  The  fcholars  at 
Athens  iinderftood  fo  much,  as  to  fee  there  v/as  a  God 
greater  than  the  planets  which  the  nations  worfhipped  ; 
they  thought  that  God  was  to  have  an  altar  as  well  as 
Jupiter  and  Mars,  and  thofe  other  Gods,  and  therefore 
they  built  an  altar  to  the  unknown  God,  whom  they  igno- 
rantly  worfhipped. 

If  thou  and  I  are  come  to  the  knowledge  of  the  true  God, 
then  we  mufl:  know  more  than  thefe  fcholars  of  Athens,  who 
ereded  an  altar  to  the  unknoivn  God  :  When  the  apoftle 
came  to  preach  divinity  among  thefe  fcholars  of  Athens, 
who  were  mafl:ers  of  arts  and  fciences,  he  preached  to 
them,  faying,  that  unknown  God,  whom  ye  ignorantly 
worfhip,  him  declare  I  unto  you  ;  we  do  not  need  to  declare 
to  you  the  Gods  of  the  nations,  for  you  worfliip  them, 
but  to  declare  to  you  the  unknown  God  whom  ye  ignorantly 
worfhip  ;  theie  were  the  great  fcholars  of  Athens  that  the 
apofl:le  fpake  to  :  W^hat  doft  thou  declare  of  God  ?  He 
is  the  God  that  made  the  world  and  all  things  therein,  fee- 
ing  that  he  is  Lord  of  Heaven  and  Earth,  and  dwelleth  not 
in  temples  made  with  hands,  neither  is  worfhipped  with  mens 
hands,  as  though  he  needed  any  things  feeing  he  giveth  to 
all  Ufe  and  breath,  a?id  all  things,  and  hath  made  of  one 
blood  all  nations  of  men  to  divell  upon  the  face  of  the  earth, 
and  hath  determined  the  titnes  before  appointed,  and  the  bounds 
of  their  habitations,  that  they  Jhould  feek  the  Lord,  if  haply 
they  might  feel  after  him,  and  find  him,  though  he  be  not 
far  from  every   one  of  us  ;  for  in  him  we   live^    move  and 

Q  q.  Imve 


^o6  No  True  1^0 r ship  without 

have  our  being  ;  for  as  certain  alfo  of  your  own  poets  have 
faid,  for  ive  are  alfo  his  offspring  '^  for  as  much  then  as  ive 
are  the  Ojfspring  of  God,  we  ought  not  to  thi?ik  that  the 
Godhead  is  like  unto  gold,  or  Jllver,  or  Jtone  graven  by  art 
and  man's  device. 

Here  is  away  of  learning,  you  need  not  turn  overbooks 
any  more  ;  if  I  would  know  the  true  God,  I  muft  know 
who  gave  me  life  and  motion,  and  wh'o  created  me,  he  is 
not  far  from  me  j  and  how  Ihould  1  find  the  knowledge 
of  him  ?  feel  after  hiniy  if  haply  you  -may  find  him  ;  for 
he  is  not  far  from  any  of  us  ;  in  him  we  live^  and  movcy 
and  have  our  being  ;  we  cannot  live  without  him  one  mo- 
ment j  he  giveth  Ufe,  effence  and  power,  to  all  creatures 
in  Heaven  and  Earth  ;  we  muft  have  him  with  us,  or  we 
cannot  live  j  I  die  as  foon  as  my  life  departs  fi'om  me, 
fo  do  you  ;  if  my  breath  and  life  continue  with  me,  it 
is  by  the  power  of  him  that  giveth'  it,  in  whom  I  live, 
and  move,  and  have  m.y  being  j  ftill  it  is  in  him  that  firft 
gave  it. 

Here  all  the  great  fcholars  and  philofophers  were  coun- 
felled  to  feci  after  him  ;  fo  are  all  people  now-a-days  : 
This  is  our  buiinefs,  when  ve  go  to  preach  the  know- 
jledge  of  God  to  them  that  want  it  ;  our  commiflion  runs 
not,  that  we  mud  read  fuch  a  book,  fuch  an  author,  and 
turn  over  fuch  a  leaf,  and  there  you  ilial]  have  a  difco- 
very,  and  a  fair  demonPcration  of  the  attributes  of  God, 
of  his  wifdom,  power,  goodnefs^  mercy,  omnipotence  and 
omnifcience  ;  our  commiilion  runs  not  that  way,  but  our 
commiflion  runs  thus  j  that  we  turn  people  from  darknefs  to 
light  ;  and  from  the  poiver  of  fata n  to  God  ;  to  turn  their 
minds  from  that  which  may  hinder  the  knowledge  of  Chrift, 
from  darknefs,  blindnefs  and  ignorance  ;  God  is  not  far 
from  them  j  perhaps  they  might  find  him,  if  they  did  feek 
after  him. 

There  are  a  fort  of  men  now-a-days  (fuch  as  were  in 
former  times)  that  fay  unto  Gud,  depart  from  us,  voe  de- 
fire  not  the  knowledge  of  thy  ways  ;  fuch  a  fort  of  people 
are  dark^  and  blind  and  ignorant,  and  are  like  to  conti- 
nue fo,  that  fav  to  God,  depart  from  us  ;  God  is  come 
to  them,    hut  they  bid  him  depart  from  them  :     We  are 

fent 


tJie  Right  Knowledge  of  GOD.  ^o*y 

fent  to  thefe  people  that  are  dark  and  ignorant,  and  have 
not  the  true  knowledge  of  God,  though  they  have  abun- 
dance of  notions,  hear-fay  knowledge,  learning  and  fpecu- 
lation  j  our  bulinefs  is  to  convince  them  of  their  igno- 
rance,  a?id  to    turn  them  from   darhtefs  to    light. 

There  are  a  people  that  have  mocked- and  fcofFed  at  us  ma- 
ny years  j  what,  fay  they,  is  there  a  light  within  ?  Mufl: 
we  go  to  the  light  within  ?  Hath  every  body  a  light 
within  ? 

Yes,  I  believe  fo  j  and  you  mud  believe  fo  too,  if  you 
will  believe  the  fcriptures.  Chrift  is  the  true  Ught,  and  he 
hath  enlightened  every  man  that  cometh  into  the  ivorUL  If  he 
did  light  them,  how  did  he  do  it  ?  I  will  tell  you,  lay 
they  ;  he  fpake  a  great  many  gracious  v/ords,  and  fom.e- 
body  hath  writ  them  down.  What,  will  this  prove  the 
light  within  ?  Becaufe  v/e  have  got  a  New  Teflament, 
and  Chrifl:  hath  fpoken  a  great  many  gracious  words,  and 
they  are  written  down  and  recorded,  doth  this  prove  the 
light  within  \  No,  people  might  have  been  in  darknefs 
ftill,  for  all  the  books  of  the  New  Teftament,  and  the. 
Old  Teflament  too,  and  for  all  the  books  in  the  world  ; 
for  they  would  never  have  conveyed  light  into  the  hearts 
and  confciences    of  men,  if  God  had  not  placed  it  there. 

Indeed  thefe  books  may  be  inftrumental,  and  God  doth 
make  ufe  of  them  as  a  means  for  the  conveying  of  light 
and  grace,  and  working  of  true  converfion  j  but  the  holy 
fcriptures  cannot  do  it  of  themfelves,  unlefs  there  be  a  co'- 
acting  and  co-operation  of  the  Spirit  of  Chrift  with  them  j 
without  this  fpirit  they  cannot  convey  faving  light  to  us ; 
how  prove  you  then  a  Hght  within  ?  The  apoftle  tells 
you,  if  you  will  believe  him,  2  Cor.  iv,  6  ',  God,  vjho 
co?nmandcth  the  light  to  Jhine  out  of  darknefs,  hath  fhined 
into  our  hearts^  to  give  the  light  of  the  knoiuledge  of  the 
glory  of  God,  in  the  face  of  Jefus  Chrift  ;  fo  that  every  one 
that  retireth  into  himfelf,  will  know  quickly,  and  under- 
ftand  his  error,  and  confefs  that  there  is  a  light  within, 
and  that  by  this  rule,  becaufe  there  is  fomething  in  the 
heart,  that  makes  manifeft  that  which  is  reprovabie  ;  if  they 
do  or  fay  a  thing  reprovabie,  that  which  manifefteth  a 
thing  is  light  j  that  which  manifefteth  dark  words  or  v/orks, 
is  light.  Now 


SoS  No  True  Worship  without 

No^x^  when  thev  have  found  this  light  ivithin,  the  next 
queftion  in  controverfy  is,  whether  this  will  give  men  fuf- 
ficient  Hght  for  the  true  knowledge  of  God  j  \Y/hether  this 
be  fufficient  to  bring  a  man  to   life   and  faivation  ? 

I  am  of  that  judgment,  that  it  is  fufficient  ;  and  I  be- 
lieve it  heartily,  and  preach  it  boldly  in  the  name  of  the 
Lord,  that  the  light  that  lliines  in  your  hearts,  fhines 
there  to  give  you  the  true  knowledge  of  God,  in  the  face 
of  the  Mediator,  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift.  You  cannot  be- 
lieve this,  you  will  fay,  for  you  have  had  this  ever  fince 
you  was  a  child,  and  you  know  not  the  leaft  good  it 
hath  done  you  ;  all  our  learned  men  and  minifters,  go  to 
what  fort  you  will,  they  fpeak  very  flightly  of  it ;  this 
light  within  is  nothing  but  natural  confcience,  a  poor  light, 
it  is  but  an  2g?2is  fatuus,  that  will  mi  (lead  us.  But  let 
me  tell  thee,  the  reafon  why  it  doth  thee  no  more  good, 
is,  becaufe  thou  haft  been  loofe  and  wanton,  and  vain, 
and  wouldeft  not  receive  the  reproofs  of  it  ;  reckon  up 
the  time,  and  call  to  mind,  when  thou  didft  receive  the 
reproofs  of  it,  then  it  did  thee  fome  good,  and  brought 
thee  to  remorfe,  and  brought  anguifh  and  forrow,  and  trou- 
ble into  thy  mind,  and  brought  thee  to  a  right  fenfe  of 
what  evil  thou  hadft  done  ;  but  if  thou  didft  not  reeard 
it,  no  wonder  it  did  thee  no  good  ;  its  reproofs  and  coun- 
lels  were  like  the  feed  fown  by  the  high  way,  the  foivh 
of  the  air  gathered  it  up,  and  it  did  not  grow  ;  that  is, 
the  devil  plucked  it  up,  and  then  the  foul  lay  as  Cccd  that 
brought  forth  no  fruit  to  God,  and  the  devil  might  have 
what   advantage  he   would. 

I  \Y/iil  tell  you  the  reafon  why  fo  many  learned  men, 
men  of  great  abilities,  fpeak  fo  flightly  and  m.eanly  of  it, 
becaufe  it  hath  done  them  no  good,  inward  nor  outward, 
chat  they  knov/  of:  How  fhould  it  do  you  good  when 
it  harh  done  them  none  ?  The  reafon  why  it  doth  them 
no  good,  is  becaufe  they  do  not  believe  in  it ;  and  did 
Chrift  ever  do  any  body  good  that  did  not  believe  in 
l-'im  ?  He  gaz-e  men  poiver  indeed  to  become  the  fons  of 
Gody  the  greateft  good  that  they  "are  capable  of;  but  it 
was  to  thofe  that  believed  on  his  name  :  \>7ere  all  they  the 
fons  of  Goa  that  heard   Chrift  preach  ?     No,   fom.e  were 

the 


the  Right  Knowledge  of  GOD.  joj? 

the  devil's  Tons  ;  our  Saviour  tells  them,  that  they  were 
of  their  father  the  devil,  and  they  did  his  works  ;  they 
came  to  meetings  and  heard  Chrift  preach  ',  he  difcourfed 
to  them,  but  it  did  them  no  good,  for  they  did  not  be- 
lieve on  his  name. 

And  then  it  appears  in  the  next  place,  that  if  this  light 
be  taken  heed  to,  and  if  men  come  to  be  taught  by  it 
and  receive  inftrudions,  they  would  then  have  it  all  for 
nothing,  they  would  have  it  all  for  God's  fake  i  all  the 
counfels  and  underftanding  of  divine  myReries,  all  the  open- 
ings of  God,  and  all  their  knowledge  of  God  would  be  ob- 
tained without  charge :  What  then  would  become  of  the  trade 
of  preaching  Chrift,  and  the  attributes  of  God  ;  then  their 
filver-fhrine-trade  will  be  fpoiled,  and  then  their  Diana  is 
gone  ;  and  this  light  hath  done  them  no  good  inwardly 
becaufe  of  their  unbeHef  ^  and  it  doth  them  no  good  out- 
wardly, becaufe  it  fpoils  their  preaching  trade,  becaufe  it 
teacheth  men  for  nothing,  but  teacheth  them,  for  God's  fake, 
the  light  of  the  knoivledgs  of  God,  that  fliines  in  the  face  of 
Jefus  Chrift,  wherein  are  the  openings  of  the  myfteries  of  the 
kingdom  of  God. 

So  that  if  any  come  to  know  the  virtue  and  the  power 
that  turneth  men  from  darknefs  to  light,  they  are  come  to 
another  ftate,  and  twned  froni  the  power  of  fatan  to  the  pow- 
er of  God;  aud  when  the  power  of  God  is  revealed  in 
them,  then  they  fay,  this  is  my  God  ;  now  I  know  the 
true  God  ',  they  fpeak  as  thofe  that  are  acquainted  with 
him ;  this  is  life  eternal  to  know  thee  the  only  true  God^ 
and  Jefus  Chrijt  whom  thou  haft  fent  :  It  is  not  to  know 
him  at  a  diftance,  but  as  always  prefent-:  The  foul  comes 
to  be  acquainted  with  God,  as  familiarly  as  a  man  is  ac-  * 
quainted  with  his  friend,  and  better  too  :  A  man  that  is 
acquainted  with  his  friend,  only  knows  fome  things  per- 
taining to  him  ',  but  thofe  that  are  acquainted  with  their 
Maker  they  know  the  whole  counfel  of  God,  fo  far  as  be- 
longs to  their  peace  ;  therefore  it  was  not  in  vain  faid  of 
old,  acquaint  thou  thyfelf  with  him,  and  be  at  peace  : 
Be  but  acquainted  with  that  inward  power  that  knows  thy 
thoughts,  and  then  nobody  need  to  preach  a  fermon  to 
thee  of   the  omniprefence   of  God  y    nobody  need   make 

thee 


^10  No   True  IVorship  zvit/wut 

thee  a  dodrine  of  it,  and  offer  reafons  and  motives  for  thee 
to  believe  it  j  it  is  all  foolifh  labour  j  I  know  that  God  is 
with  me,  and  near  me  ;  I  feel  him  in  me^  and  with  me, 
at  my  down-lying  and  up-rifing  ;  when  I  am  in  my  ihop 
and  about  my  bufmefs,  he  is  with  me  in  all  places  ;  and 
fuch  a  man  is  alio  well  inllrudled  about  the  omnifcience 
of  God  ;  God's  knowing  every  thing  ;  I  have  learned  that 
fmce  I  came  to  know  him,  all  the  doctors  in  Europe  can 
tell  me  no  more  than  I  know  in  that  point  ',  the  Lord  ob- 
fervetli  all  my  goings ^  and  nuinbereth  all  my  fleps  ;  Lord,  thou 
inakejt  tnamfefl  the  thoughts  of  my  heart,  thou  fearchefl  my 
heart,  and  tryeft  -my  reins.  Here  is  God's  omnifcience  and 
knowing  all  things.  Here  is  divinity  growing  out  of  the 
life. 

Then  the  wifdom  of  God  is  infinite  j  fo  are  all  God's 
attributes  infinite,  incomprel  enfible  and  unfpeakable,  they 
are  all  fo  in  him,  but  he  .Makes  manifeft  a  meafure  of 
his  xdfdom  ;  he  brings  a  man  from  being  fuch  a  fool  as 
he  was  before,  to  become  a  wife  man  ;  he  was  fuch  a  fojt 
and  fool  as  to  become  drunk  and  tumble  in  the  dirt ,-  he 
could  not  ftand  upon  his  legs,  but  now  he  is  become  wife 
and  fober:  Another  was  fo  foolifh  as  to  defile  himfclf  and 
wallow  in  his  uncleannefs ;  now  fuch  a  man  comes  to  true 
wifdom,  it  begins  in  the  fear  of  God,  the  fear  of  the  Lord 
is  the  beginning  of  ivifdo?n  :  What  doth  his  wiidom  do  ? 
It  keeps  him  out  of  the  dirt ;  it  makes  him  live,  firft  as 
a  man  then  as  a  Chrilfian,  to  live  rtghteoufly,  foherly  and 
godly,  in  this  prefent  ivorld  :  It  leads  him  into  the  knowledge 
of  the  myfieries  of  the  kingdom*  of  God  ;  to  knoiv  and 
comprehend  with  all  faints y  what  is  the  heighth,  and  lengthy 
and  breadth,  and  depth,  and  to  knoiv  the  love  of  Chriji  wJiick 
paffeth  knovjledge  :  This  is  more  than  bare  fobriety  and 
moderate  living  ;  fuch  are  taught  to  live  foberly,  righ- 
teoufly  and  godly,  to  live  by  faith,  and  to  be  led  into 
the  hi  ovu  ledge  of  the  my  fiery  of  the  kingdo'm  of  God ;  to 
know  the  Lord  lefus  Chrifl:  to  their  j unification.  This 
is  the  learned  and  the  wife  man  j  he  hath  got  the  fubftance 
as  well  as  the  ihadow  ;  he  hath  the  marrow  as  well  as  the 
bone ;  he  is  reconciled  to  God,  through  Chrifl  ;  he  hath  re- 
inijjion  of  fi.ns  through   Chrifi  Jefus,   that  died  for  him  and 


role  a 


gain. 


Whea 


the  Right  Knowledge  of  GOD,  jir 

'^hen  you  come  to  be  partakers  of  this,  it  will  do  you 
good  J  notions  will  not  do  it ;  when  you  come  to  know 
God  for  yourfelves,  and  underftand  him  for  yourfelves, 
to  know  him  as  your  Saviour  and  Redeemer,  that  hath  ref- 
cued  you  from  the  fnares  of  the  wicked  one  ;  whoever  doth 
this,  they  will  worfhip  God  ;  when  they  have  this  know- 
ledge of  him,  they  will  bow  to  him,  they  will  be  Hke  thofe 
of  old'  that  (aid,  he  is  our  judge,  he  is  cur  laiv-giver,  he 
is  our  king^  and  he  will  fave  us  :  There  aroie  a  teftimony 
in  the  hearts  of  good  people  of  that  age,  that  God  was  ^ 
their  judge  that  judged  them,  their  law-giver  that  directed 
them,  how  they  fhould  make  their  way  to  him  ',  that  he 
was  their  king,  and  ought  to  rule  them,  for  he  muPc  fave 
them. 

So  when  people  come  to  know  God  for  themfelves,  to 
be  inwardly  acquainted  with  God  for  themfelves  ;  when 
a  com.pany  of  thefe  fouls  meet  together,  when  they  have 
been  at  this  fchool,  and  learned  this  leiTon  of  divinir37,  they 
then  fit  down  and  v/ait  upon  the  Lord,  that  God  thaP 
fearcheth  the  heart  and  trieth  the  reins,  and  obferveth  how 
they  do  fervice  for  the  honour  of  his  name,  and  they  receive 
fpiritual  gifts  from  him  to  their  edification  and  comfort, 
and  they  receive  judgment  from  him  when  they  do  any 
thing  contrary  to  his   mind. 

The  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  is  the  Minifter  of  the  Sanctuary 
which  .the  Lord  hath  pitched  :  If  men  have  a  church,  as 
they  call  it,  they  muft  have  John  or  Thomas  for  their  mini- 
fter :  We  know  who  is  the  minifter  of  fuch  a  place  j  but 
here  is  a  minifter  fet  up  in  God's  fanduary,  this  prieji's 
lips  fhall  preferve  knowledge.  All  that  come  to  God's 
church  are  taught  of  this  prieft,  he  is  a  high  one,  the  high 
priejt  of  our  profeffion,  we  have  not  fuch  another  ;  he  is 
not  fet  up  by  a  carnal  commandment;  his  indud:ion  came 
not  from  any  prieft  in  this  world,  but  his  induction  came 
from  the  God  of  Heaven  and  Earth ;  his  Father  fet  him 
up  for  a  prieft ;  he  comes  by  a  Heavenly  induclton  and 
commifiion,  he  is  a  prief  fore%:er,  after  the  order  of  Alel- 
chifedeck,  not  after  the  order  of  Aaron  :  If  vcu  come  to 
God's  church,  you  may  hear  this  minifter. 

Some  have  called  a  houfe  of  ftone,  or  wood,  a  church, 

buL 


jri  No  True  Worship  xvithout 

but  that  will  not  do  now,  therefore  there  are  people  that 
know  better  than  they^  who  fee  churches  gathered  of  liv- 
ing ftones  ',  men  and  women  are  gathered  to  thefe  churches. 
Now  the  apoftle  faith,  the  church  is  in  God,  the  Father  of 
our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift :  If  you  will  come  to  church  you 
muft  come  to  Jefus  Chrift,  the  church  is  in  God,  the  Fa- 
ther of  our  Lord  Jefus  Chnft,  the  general  alTembly,  the 
congregation  of  his  faithful  people.  What  do  you  mean 
by  a  church  ?  Ask  a  learned  man,  that  underftands  Greek 
and  Hebre^y/,  what  is  the  meaning  of  the  word?  A  church, 
faith  he,  is  the  congregation  of  the  faithful,  it  is  an  afiem- 
blv  of  the  faithful  people  co'.7grega];ed  together.  Where 
muft  they  meet  ?  thev  m.uft  meet  in  the  general  ajfe?nMy 
of  the  -firfl-borny  vjhnfe  naines  are  ivntccn  in  Heaven, 
The  Hebreivs  were  come  to  that  church,  though  they  lived 
many  hundred  miles  afunder,  in  AJia^  Cappadocia  and 
Bythima  :  You  are  ccme  to  the  general  affembly  of  the  firji- 
born;  there  is  a  prieft,  there  is  the  high-priejt  of  our  pro-' 
fejjion,  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrifi,  ivho  is  a  prieft  after  the 
order  of  Melchifedeik^  not  after  the  order  of  Aaron.  How 
long  is  this  prieft  like  to  ftay  in  his  priefthood  ?  Forever ; 
he  is  a  prieft  forever^  not  after  a  earned  commandment^  hut 
according  to  the  povcer   of  an  endlefs  life. 

The  priefts  that  were  after  Aaron  s  order,  they  could 
not  continue  :  Death  fnatched  one  away,  then  they  mufi: 
have  another  prieft  j  but  here  is  one  that  hath  a  priefthood 
higher  than  the  Heavens,  by  the  power  of  an  endlefs  life  : 
Here  is  the  prieft  of  God's  church,  and  the  teacher  of 
God's  people  ;  fo  that  when  God's  people  come  to  church, 
that  is,  to  God  the  Father,  there  Chrift  teacheth  them, 
according  to  the  old  prophefy,  I  will  teach  my  people 
myfelf 

We  have  laboured  to  bring  people  to  this  teaching,  that 
they  might  come  to  the  knowledge  of  the  living  God. 
Nov/  there  needs  none  to  teach  them,  for  they  are  taught 
of  God  ;  blelTed  be  God,  our  labour  hath  not  been  in  xain^ 
voe  fee  the  fruit  of  our  labours^  and  are  fatisfied.  We  have 
been  labouring  to  bring  men  to  know  the  Lord  ',  now 
all  jhall  knoiv  the  Lord,  from  the  greateft  to  the  leaf:,  and 
bow  before  him,   and  worihip  -him  ;  they  hear  that  their. 


the  RlGTiT   Kl^OTVLEPGE   of  GOD.  Jl^ 

kigh  prieft's  lips  fhall  preferve  knowledge.  ^  If  they  do  amifs,  he 
chaftifeth  them  for  it  j  if  they  do  well,  then  he  comfort- 
eth  them  by  his  Spirit  :  Now  our  labour  is,  that  all  may 
be  brought  to  this,  and  that  every  one  may  know  the  Lord, 
and  may  fear  him  and  ferve  him,  and  worfhip  him  in  hi^ 
temple  :  Our  bodies  are  a  temple  for  that  uie,  to  worfhip 
God  in  ',  know  you  not  that  your  bodies  are  temples  of  the 
Holy  Ghoft  ?  you  muft  worfhip  in  yourfelves,  you  muft  go 
into  yourfelves,  you  muft  know  the  exercife  of  the  grace 
of  God  in  yourfelves,  and  the  workings  of  the  ipirit 
of  truth  in  yourfelves,  and  that  your  fouls  in  your  bo- 
dies may  be  bowed  to  the  power  of  the  fpirit,  and  that 
your  worfhip  muft  be  in  the  fpirit  ;  you  muft  prav  in 
the  fpirit,  and  give  thanks  in  the  fpirit. 

Though  thofe  that  fet  up  worfhip  in  the  church,  talk 
of  divinity  and  rehgion  in  every  part  of  it,  yet  the  fubftance 
of  all  the  fhadows  of  the  law  are  fulfilled  in  the  gofpel ; 
the  fubftance  of  all  the  modes,  and  rites,  and  forms  of  reli- 
gion, are  fulfilled  in  the  gofpel-way :  So  then  let  every 
one  compare  and  examine  their  ftate,  and  confider  how  the 
cafe  ftands  between  them  and  their  Maker,  what  knowledge 
they  have  of  God,  and  what  truft  they  have  put  in  him, 
that  fo  they  may  be  perfuaded  and  prepared  to  come  within 
the  pale  of  this  church.  But  you  muft  firft  come  out  of 
the  world,  elfe  you  can  never  come  into  that  church  r^^at  is 
in  God  ;  if  you  be  in  the  world,  you  muft  go  to  the 
world's  church,  and  be  the  members  of  the  world's  church  y 
and  you  fhall  have  this  for  your  pains,  the  world  will  love 
you;  but  if  you  come  out  of  the  world's  church  into  God's 
church,  the  world  cannot  love  you. 

Be  as  good  as  thou  wilt,  thou  canft  never  be  fo  good  as 
Chrift  Jefus,  and  they  loved  him  not,  becaufe  he  was  not  of 
the  world  j  if  you  were  of  this  vjorld,  faith  Chrift,  the  vjorld 
would  love  Its  own  ;  but  Jlnce  you  are  not  of  the  world^ 
I  have  taken  you  out  of  it^  therefore  the  ivorld  hates  yon  ; 
if  they  do  fo  to  the  green-tree,  what  will  they  do  to  the 
branches?  are  you  better  than  I<*  faith  our  Saviour;  the 
fervant  is  not  greater  than  his  Lord:  Thofe  that  are  the 
difciples  of  Chrift  muft  be  content  to  he  perfecuted,  reviled 
and  hated  for  his  nanus  fake ;    for  thus  they  treated  him 

R  r  \X'ho 


jr4  No  True  Worship  ruhhout 

who  ivas  holy^  and  karmlefs,  and  undefiled,  who  gave  them 
a  good  example,  and  who  did  them  no  hurt,  but  did  them 
good;  yet  the  world  hated  him,  and  it  is  but  reafonable 
to  expe(ft  that  )'ou  fhould  fufFer  from  the  world  in  the  fame 
manner,  and  bear  it  at  their  hands. 

If  you  come  to  this  church  that  is  in  God  the  Father, 
and  JefiLS  the  Mediator,  the  church  of  the  firft-hirn  that 
are  written  in  Heaven,  and  come  out  of  the  world's  church, 
then  the  world  will  be  about  your  ears;  all  the  x^/orld 
will  fet  themfelves  againft  this  church,  againft  the  woman 
that  (hall  bring  forth  a  birth,  that  fhall  rule  over  the  na- 
tions :  There  appeared  a  great  xvonder  in  Heave?: ^  a  wo?nau 
cloathed  with  the  fun,  and  the  moon  under  her  feety  and  up^ 
072  her  head  a  crcivn  of  twelve  fiars,  and  flie  being  with 
child  cried,  travelling  in  birthy  and  pained  to  he  delivered. 
And  there  alfo  appeared  another  wonder  in  heaven  (a  terrible 
tiling)  and  behold  a  great  read  dragon y  having  f even  heads 
and  ten  horns  ,  and  the  dragon  flood  he  fere  the  woman  that 
was  ready  to  he  delivered,  to  devour  her  child  as  foon  as 
it  was  born  :  And  /he  brought  forth  a  man  child,  that 
was  to  rule  all  nations  with  a  rod  of  iron,  and  her  child 
was  caught  up  to  God,  and  to  his  throne.  When  the  dra- 
gon was  ready  to  devour  this  birth,  God  took  it  into  his 
own  care,  in  fpite  of  the  devil  and  all  his  inflruments, 
and  he  will  fave  the  child  and  preferve^  the  woman  ;  he 
that  fits  in  Heaven  will  laugh  at  his  enemies  and  defeat 
them.  There  is  a  place  appointed  for  the  woman  in  the 
wildernefs,  where  Ihe  is  preferved  by  the  Almighty  Pow- 
er ;  where  fhe  is  nourifhed  for  a  time,  and  times,  and  half 
a  time,  from  the  face  of  the  ferpent  ;  but  fhe  muft  come 
out  again  after  fome  time,  in  fpite  of  the  devil  and  all  his 
inftruments,  of  all  his  dragons  and  ferpents  :  The  woman 
muft  come  out  of  the  wildernefs,  and  the  man-child  muft 
come    down    with    great  power,   to   rule   the   nation. 

This  hath  been  accomplifhcd,  fay  fome,  above  fourteen 
hundred  years  ago  ;  and  if  you  will  take  their  woid,  the 
church  hath  been  come  fo  long  out  of  the  wildernefs. 
But  the  church  that  they  fpeak  of,  hath  it  not  wanted 
holinefs  and  righteoufnefs  ?  Hath  it  given  glory  to  God  on 
hlghy    with  peace   07i   earth   and   good  will  to    men  ?     No, 

their 


the  Right  Knowledge  of  GOD,  ^jg 

their  church  hath  lived  in  tyranny  and  barbarous  cruelty, 
and  (hcdding  of  blood.  They  fay  the  church  was  in  the 
wildernefs  in  Dioclefian's  time,  and  when  CGJiftantine  came 
to  the   empire    then   llie  came   out  of  the   wildernefs. 

If  it  had  been  a  holy  church,  we  fhould  have  feen  the 
maivchild  come  down  from  God,  and  holinefs  and  righ- 
teoufnefs  would  have  run  down  like  a  mighty  fire  am  ^  and 
truth  would  have  filled  the  whole  earth.  All  thefe  things 
have  not  yet  been  fulfilled,  for  we  have  feen  the  pro- 
felTors  of  truth  fallen  in  the  ftreets  ;  they  have  been  per- 
fecuted  and  troubled,  and  thrown  into  prifons  and  dunge- 
ons ;  but  there  is  a  better  church  fomewhere  to  be  found. 

I  read  of  the  holy  church,  the  lamb's  wife,  the  fpoufe  of 
Chrift  that  hath  been  fhid  fomewhere,  a  great  while,  in 
fome  corner  or  other  in  the  wildernefs  ;  but  ilie  will  come 
forth  again  out  of  the  ivildemefs,  leaning  upon  her  well- 
beloved :  She  doth  not  come  leaning  on  this  prince  and 
the  other  potentate  :  She  comes  not  out  of  the  wildernefs 
leaning  on  captains,  generals  and  armies,  but  leaning  on 
Chrift  her  well-beloved,  the  immortal,  invifible  power  of 
the  Son  of  Godj  (he  trufteth  in  it. 

All  the  other  churches,  I  have  read  of,  they  have  leaned 
upon  one  prince  or  potentate,  or  one  emperor  or  another, 
and  they  have  relied  on  thefe  great  men  as  on  their  bul- 
V/ark  y  but  this  church  that  comes  out  of  the  wildernefs, 
will  come  leaning  only  upon  her  well-beloved,  the  Lord 
Jefus  Chrift,  who  is  the  author  and  finifher  of  her  faith ; 
fhe  will  put  her  truft  in  him,  for  he  will  deliver  his  church 
from  all  her  enemies :  And  though  the  ferpent  caft  out  of 
his  mouth  water  as  a  flood,  after  the  woman,  that  he  might 
caufe  her  to  be  carried  away  of  the  flood,  yet  the  Lord 
will  caufe  the  earth  to  help  the  woman,  and  the  earth 
(hall  open  her  mouth  and  fwallow  up  the  flood  which  the 
dragon  caft  out  of  his  mouth.  Let  the  dragon  do  what  he 
can  to  deftroy  the  woman  and  her  feed,  fhe  knows  what 
her  beloved  can  do,  he  will  command  the  earth  to  open  and 
fwallow  up  the  flood,  and  flie  fhall  go  dry  through  it. 

How  happy  are  they  that  lean  upon  Chrift  their  well- 
beloved  !  The  church  of  Chrift  in  all  ages  hath  leaned  up- 
on him,  and  he  hath  founded  his  church  upon  a  rock,  fd 

that 


^iS      god's  Wonderful  Love  to  Mankind, 

that  the  devil  and  all  his  inftruments,  and  the  very  gates 
of  hell  JJiall  not  prevail  againfl  her.  The  members  of  this 
church  have  Chrift  Jefus  for  their  teacher,  and  they  receive 
counfel  and  direcftion  from  him :  He  is  their  prieft  and 
teacher,  and  he  teacheth  them  by  his  fpirit  and  his  word, 
which  he  hath  placed  in  their  hearts,  and  given  them  an  un- 
derftanding  to  know  him  that  is  true  :  Chrift's  word  you 
mufl:  keep  to,  if  you  v/ill  be  true  fcholars.  This  \s  true 
divinity  ',  if  you  will  have  the  myfteries  of  the  kingdom 
of  God  communicated  and  opened  to  you,  give  heed  to  his 
wordy  and  that  truth  that  is  in  ycur  invjard  parts  :  Attend 
to  that  light  and  that  grace  that  is  manifefted  in  your 
hearts,  and  the  Lord  will  fhew  you  more  of  the  power 
and  efficacy  thereof  j  and  if  you  be  faithful  in  a  little^  he 
will  make  you  rulers  over  much  ;  live  anfwerable  to  the 
underftanding  and  knowledge  that  God  hath  given  you, 
and  if  you  be  faithful  in  a  little,  he  will  communicate  more 
and  more  of  his  m.ind  and  will  to  you  ;  and  if  you  be  led 
by  the  fpirit  of  truth,  you  will  truft  in  it,  and  hearken  to 
it,  and  underiland  the  language  of  it  in  your  own  hearts ; 
and  if  you  be  a  voilling  people  in  the  day  of  God's  power y 
God  will  work  all  things  iji  you  and  for  you,  and  ivork  in, 
you    both  to ,  will^   and  to   do.    of  his  good  pleafure, 

S  E  R  M  O  N     XXVII. 

G  O  D's    Wonderful    Love   to 

Mankind. 

Preac/iQd  at  St,   Martin' S-Le-Gr AND,   November 

IT  is  our  great  concern,  while  we  are  in  this  world, 
to  promxote  the  glory  of  God,  and  to  voork  cut  our  oven 
falvationy  to  endeavour,  as  much  as  in  us  lies,  to  be  fen- 
iible,  and  to  help  one  another  to  be  fenfible  of  the  love  of 
God  to  us :  This  is  the  only  thing  that  can  give  us  true 
coiXifort,  to  have  a  fcnfe  of  the  love  of  God  to  us  in  Chrift 

Jeiiis : 


god's  Wonderful  Love  to  Mankind,  jj^ 
Jefus :  There  is  nothing  more  certain  than  that  all  of  us 
are  partakers  of  the  love  of  God>  which  is  imparted  to  us 
daily,  and  we  live  not  a  day  without  it ;  but  we  may,  if 
we  have  not  a  care,  live  many  days  without  it,  and  without 
the  comfortable  fenfe  of  it  j  and  that  is  the  reafon,  that  a 
great  many  of  the  fons  and  daughters  of  men,  do  fliew  forth 
in  their  lives,  fo  little  love  to  God,  becaufe  they  have  fo 
little  lenfe  of  his  love  to  them ;  for  the  apoftle  John,  that 
had  attained  to  a  great  knowledge  and  experience  in  Chrif- 
tianity,  plainly  declarcth,  that  the  reafon  of  that  love  that 
we  have  to  God  is,  becaufe  he  firfl  loved  us  ;  and  I  do  not 
believe  that  any  man  can  have  any  true  love  to  God,  that 
is  not  fenfible  of  the  love  of  God  to  him. 

And  as  for  thofe  temporal  bleflings  that  we  enjoy  in 
this  life,  as  health  and  ftrength,  and  our  very  breath  and 
being,  and  well-being,  that  every  day  and  hour  are  con- 
tinued, they  are  from  the  love  of  God  to  us,  and  the 
lengthening  out  of  our  lives  and  vouchfafing  us  opportuni- 
ties for  the  good  of  our  Ibuls,  are  evident  tokens  of  God's 
love  and  good-will  to  us.  W^here  thefe  things  are  not  con- 
fidered  and  regarded,  men  live  like  the  beajis  that  perifli^ 
and  regard  not  him  that  made  them,  but  go  on  in  difobe- 
dience  to  him,  and  diihonouring  of  his  great  name,  and 
heaping  up  wrath  upon  their  own  fouls  :  And  thus  doth 
every  man,  while  he  remains  in  his  natural  ftate  and  con- 
dition j  for  there  is  in  every  man  by  nature  the  feed  and 
root  of  all  fm  and  rebellion  againit  God,  which  makes  him 
return  evil  to  God  for  the  good  he  doth  to  us. 

And  I  believe  we  are  all  of  us  fenfible,  in  fome  mea- 
fure,  of  the  depravity  that  is  fallen  upon  all  mankind, 
and  of  that  enmity  to  God,  and  that  averfion  that  is  in 
men  to  the  doing  the  will  of  God,  and  that  impoten- 
.cy  and  inability  that  is  in  every  man  to  the  reforming 
of  his  ways,  and  the  changing  of  his  heart,  and  leaving 
off  his  corrupt  and  vicious  inclinations,  without  the  di- 
vine help  and  afTiilance  of  the  grace  and  Spirit  of  God. 

Now  they  that  are  thus  far  lenfible  of  their  alienation, 
by  nature,  from  the  Lord,  and  are  alfo  fenfible,  that  the 
time  they  have  here,  is  the  only  time  they  have  for  their 
preparation  and  being  fitted  for  that  everlafting  kingdom, 

which 


^i8       god's  Wonderful  Love  to  Mankind. 

which  we  all  would  enjoy  ;  how  ought  this  to  affed  the 
mind  of  every  one,  that  while  they  have  time,  they  might 
prize  it  and  improve  it,  and  come  to  an  inward  fenfe  of 
the  love  of  God,  that  fo  they  might  have  a  love  raifed  in 
their  hearts  again  to  God  ?  For  people  will  never  be  obe- 
dient unto  God,  till  they  love  him,  nor  ever  love  him, 
till  they  are  feniible  of  fiis   love  to  them. 

Therefore,  that  which  is  the  means  and  way  of  God's 
making  himfelf  known  to  the  fons  and  daughters  of  men, 
that  means,  and  that  way,  every  one  ought  to  embrace  ; 
every  one  ought  to  be  acG[uainted  with  it,  and  have  the 
cxercife  of  their  minds  in  it,  that  fo  we  might  come  to 
the  knowledge  of  God,  and  might  know,  by  an  experi- 
mental and  fenfible  feeUng,  the  kindnefs  of  God  to  us. 

And  truly  friends,  they  that  are  minded  to  fpend  their 
time,  and  exercife  themfelves,  in  the  confideration  of  the 
mercy  and  kindnefs  of  God,  they  have  work  enough  for 
their  whole  life-time,  to  confider  and  contemplate  the  ma- 
nifold mercies  of  God  beftowed  upon  them  j  for  we  have 
our  life  and  breath  from  him,  whom  the  whole  world 
obeys,  and  ferves  ;  God,  that  made  all  living  creatures, 
hath  created  us,  and  preferved  us  ;  he  hath  had  long-fuf- 
fering  and  patience  towards  us  until  now,  and  he  is  yet 
mindful  to  do  us  good,  which  is  evidently  manifeft  by 
the  invitations  and  promifes  he  hath  made  us,  and  the  work- 
ings of  his  Holy  Spirit  that  he  hath  made  us  acquainted 
withal. 

For  who  is  there  in  this  affembly,  that  God  hath  not 
made  fenfible  of  the  tenders  of  his  grace,  and  invitations  to 
repentance  and  reformation,  that  they  that  live  loofely  and 
vainly  in  the  world,  might  turn  to  the  Lord  with  all  their 
hearts,  and  confider  their  ways  and  doings  ?  God  hath  waited 
to  be  gracious  to  the  fons  and  daughters  of  men,  and  his 
mercy  and  patience  hath  been  beyond  all  human  patience, 
beyond  the  patience  that  ever  you  did  beftow  upon  any, 
this  the  Lord  hath  beftowed  upon  you  ;  therefore  I  entreat 
you,  in  the  love  of  God,  let  this  confideration  fink  deeply 
into  your  fpirits,  that  you  may  be  affeded  with  the  kind- 
nefs of  Goii,  and  his  patience  towards  you,  and  his  loug- 
fujfering^  while  you  have  been  finning  againft  him. 

But 


god's  Wonderful  Love  to  Mankind,    jr^ 

But  fome  will  fay,  how  ftiall  I  know  this  ?  After  what 
manner  may  I  experience  this  love  of  God  to  me  ?  How 
may  I   be  fure   that   the   Lord  hath   a  love   for  me  ? 

My  friends,  it  is  not  only  temporal  kindnefs  that  we 
enjoy  from  God  ;  it  is  not  only  the  lengthening  out  of 
our  days,  that  is  an  evident  token  of  the  love  of  God  to 
us ;  but  there  is  a  demonftration  and  manifeftation  of  it, 
that  is  univerfally  extended  to  the  fons  and  daughters  of 
men,  in  that  he  hath  fown  his  word  in  them,  and  hath  fown 
his  truth  and  his  grace  in  their  hearts,  that  every  man, 
tho'  he  may  be  ever  fo  wicked,  ever  fo  foolifh  and  vain, 
yet  he  hath  many  times  checks  and  reproofs  in  his  own 
neart  :  I  know  it,  and  I  doubt  not  but  you  do. 

Pray  whence  comes  that  principle  which  doth  flop  you  in 
a  courfe  of  (in,  and  check  and  reprove  you  for  finning 
againft  the  Lord  ?  If  you  attend  to  it,  and  confider  it, 
you  will  find  it  proceeds  from  God  ;  it  comes  from  him, 
from  him  comes  our  life  and  breath  ;  then  people  (hould 
be  incited  to  receive  the  grace  of  God  ;  the  favour  and 
mercy  of  God  which  he  hath  befi:owed  upon  them,  in  order 
to  their  falvation.  The  fcripture  tells  us,  that  grace  and 
truth  came  by  Jefus  Chrift,  If  thou  haft  any  good,  it 
came  by  Jefus  Chrift  ^  and  if  thou  haft  any  truth,  it  came 
by  Jefus  Chrift,  who  is  the  fountain  of  truth,  and  the  foun- 
tain of  the  grace  of  God  ;  it  is  he  by  whom  God  hath 
made  himfelf  known  to  the  fons  and  daughters  of  men  ; 
it  is  Chrift  alone,  that  God  hath  ordained  to  be  a  Medi- 
ator between  God  and  man^  that  fo  he  might  be  the  7ninifter 
of  an  everlafting  covenant,  which  we  are  brought  into  with 
God  ;  fo  that  now  people  ihould  come  to  the  confide- 
ration  of  the  way  and  means  that  God  hath  ordained  for 
their  redemption,  namely,  that  he  hath  given  Jefus,  that 
great  and  unfpeakable  gift  of  his  love  and  kindnefs,  to 
the  fons  and  daughters  of  men  ;  here  is  grace  and  truths 
that  ca^ne  by  Jefus  Chrift  :  How  is  it  come  ?  It  is  come 
into  my  heart.  Tho'  fin,  and  lufts  and  corruptions,  per- 
haps, have  a  place  in  many,  yet  Chrift  hath  a  place  too  ^ 
he  hath  made  his  grave  with  the  vjicked^  ar^d  was  numbered 
with  the  tranfgreffors  ;  he  was  like  the  feed  that  lies  un- 
<ier  the  clods,  and  is  the   Icaft  of  all   feeds,   yet  when   it 

comes 


j:>o      god's  Wondektul  Love  to  Mankind. 

comes  out  of  the  ground,  it  rifeth  high,  and  fpreads  abroad 
its  branches,  and  brings  forth  fruit ;  this  love  of  God,  this 
unchangeable  holy  truth,  is  in  every  one  ;  why  then  fhould 
not  every   man   be  ruled  and  governed  by  it  ? 

But  Tome  men  will  fay,  is  truth  better  than  falfhood, 
and  grace  better   than   iufl:  and  corruption  ? 

You  may  fee  that,  by  the  light  that  is  difcovered  in  the 
inward  parts  :  Let  every  man  turn  inward  to  the  grace 
of  God,  turn  to  that  light  that  ihews  itfelf  in  the  crea- 
ture, and  fee  what  it  will  do  for  us  :  This  is  the  dodrinc 
that  the  apodle  was  fent  withal  ,  he  was  fent  with  a  com- 
miflion  to  turn  me7i  from  darknefs  to  light,  and  from  the 
poiver  of  fatan  to  God  :  Why  did  he  do  it  ?  It  was  for 
this  end,  that  men  fnigkt  have  remtjjion  of  fin,  and  that 
they  7night  cojne  to  an  ttiheritance  among  them  that  are  fanc^ 
Ttfied  by  faith  in  Chrifl  Jefus  our  Lord  ;  Co  that  this  gofpel 
is  the  fame  that  it  ever  was,  though  men  have  divers  wavs 
of  preaching,  and  feveral  methods  and  ways  of  declaring 
the  truths  of  the  gofpel  ;  bleffed  be  God  the  apoftolical 
dodrine  is  preached  again,  and  the  blefied  gofpel  hath  the 
fame  power  attending  it  that  was  in  former  days,  and  may 
have  the  fame  effect ;  and  that  this  may  be  the  portion  of 
every  one  of  you,  is  the  end  of  our  labour.  And  we 
have  in  our  eye  but  two  things. 

Firft,  to  difcharge  a  good  confcience  in  the  fight  of 
God,  who  hath  given  us  his  word  to  preach,  and  to  turn 
men  from  darknefs  to  light,  and  from  the  poiver  of  fatan 
to  God  ;  that  we  might  keep  ourfelves  free  from  the  blood 
of  all  men. 

Secondly,  another  end  is,  the  defire  that  God  hath  plac- 
ed in  our  hearts,  that  all  7nen  every  ivhere  might  he  faved ; 
this  is  God's  will  ',  if  any  be  damned  it  is  their  own  will, 
and  the  devil's  will  ;  this  is  God's  will,  that  7tone  fnould 
■perifh,  but  that  all  fiould  come  to  repentance  and  be  eter- 
nally faved.  Now  in  this  work  of  your  falvation,  we 
would  have  regard  to  him  that  fent  us  to  preach  the  ever- 
lafting  gofpel,  and  we  would  difcharge  ourfelves  faith- 
fully, and  be  made  manifeji  in  your  co'nfciences,  that  the 
benefits  of  the  gofpel  rnight  come  to  be  yours  ;  that  you 
might  anfwer  the  purpofe  of  God,  in  fending  Chriil:  to  be 

the 


GOD*s  Wonderful  Love  to  Mankind,  j^r 
the  Saviour  of  mankind  ;  you  mud  turn  from  fin  to  God, 
and  then  you  will  find  the  blefllng  that  comes  by  Jefus, 
which  is  to  turn  every   one  from  his  evil  ivays. 

You  may  read  this  in  a  book,  and  you  may  alfo  plain- 
ly read  it  in  your  hearts  :  The  Lord  Jefus  Chrifi  hath 
given  you  light  to  diftinguifh  between  good  and  evil ;  if 
you  do  good,  you  may  make  a  comfortable  refledion  up- 
on yourfelves,  and  this  will  be  your  rejoicing,  the  tejli^ 
mony  of  your  confcience  on  that  account  ;  but  if  you  do 
evil,  though  all  men  do  juftify  you  and  commend  you, 
yet  you  will  be  condemned  in  yourfelves  ;  fo  that  you 
have  that  in  yourfelves  which  diftinguifheth  between  things 
that  differ  in  their  nature  and  kind,  and  you  have  a  little 
enlightening  by  the  knowledge  and  underifanding  you  have 
received  concerning  the  things  that  are  pleafing  and  dif- 
pleafing  to  God  -,  if  after  you  know  this,  you  will  go  on 
in  a  way  difpleafing  to  God,  he  will  at  length  be  too  hard 
for  you,  and  plunge  you  down  into  the  abyfs  of  his  wrath 
to   all    eternity. 

After  perfons  are  fatisfied  and  enhghtened  with  the  light 
of  Chrift,  and  come  to  the  experience  of  things  in  them- 
felves,  they  will  love  the  light  and  \x/alk  in  the  light  ; 
but  there  are  many  in  this  age  that  have  read  the  fcrip- 
tures  plentifully,  and  yet  ftill  go  on  in  a  way  of  fin,  they 
cannot  love  the  light  that  reproves  them  ,  he  that  doth  evil 
he  hates  the  Ught^  and  the  dawning  of  the  day  is  as  the 
fiadoiv  of  death  to  him^  and  it  brings  nothing  but  con- 
demnation upon  fuch  perfons,  fo  that  they  do  not  love 
the  light,  though  it  is  evident  they  have  it  and  enjoy  it ; 
and  it  fhall  be  their  condemnation  whether  they  will  or 
no  ;  if  they  do  not  love  the  light  and  embrace  it,  it  will 
never  be  to   their  falvation. 

God  hath  given  Chrift  to  be  a  light  to  the  GentlleSy  and 
his  falvation  to  the  ends  of  the  earth.  He  is  the  light  that 
enlightens  every  man  that  conies  into  the  world ;  the  apoftle 
John  tells  you  the  genealogy  of  the  word  of  God ;  in  the 
beginning  was  the  wordy  and  the  word  was  with  Gody  and 
the  word  was  God ;  and  the  fame  was  ifi  the  beginning 
ivith  God ;  all  things  were  made  by  hun,  and  ivit/iout  him 
was  not  any  thing  made  that  was  made  ;   in  him  was   life^ 

S  f  and 


^22       god's  Wonderful  Love  to  Mankind, 

and  the  life  vjas  the  light  of  men  ;  the  life  of  the  eternal 
word  was  the  light  of  men ;  what  men  do  you  mean  ?  I 
anfwer,  he  is  the  true  light  that  li^hteth  every  man  that 
cometh  into  the  ivorld.  He  extendeth  his  light  to  every 
man,  but  it  is  condemnation  to  every  man  fo  long  as  he 
continues  to  be  a  finner  againfl  God :  This  is  the  condem- 
nation, that  light  is  co?fie  i?ito  the  world,  and  men  love  dark- 
nefs  rather  than  light,   becaufe  their  deeds  are  evil. 

Now  all  men  are  by  nature  dead  in  iins  and  trefpafies  ; 
after  our  firft  parents  fell  into  fin  they  were  dead  to  God  ;  . 
in  the  day  that  thou  eateft  thereof  thou  fnalt  die;  when 
they  had  eaten  the  forbidden  fruit,  they  did  not  die  as  to 
outward  appearance,  but  they  died  as  to  that  communion 
they  had  with  their  Maker  j  in  this  dead  ftate  lie  all  the 
fon's  and  daughters  of  Adam;  but,  as  our  Saviour  fpeaks, 
thoup'h  they  be  dead,  they  fhall  live  again ;  Chriji  is  the 
Lord  frdm  Heaven,  a  quickening  Spirit  ;  this  is  the  ob- 
ject of  our  faith  that  hath  been  extended  and  offered  to 
mankind  ever  iince  the  fall ;  there  is  no  name  under  Heaven y 
no  other  power  or  fpirit  hy  vuhich  a  man  can  be  faved  ; 
this  great  Mediator,  the  eternal  Son  of  God,  is  the  light  that 
lio-hteth  every  man  that  cometh  into  the  ivorld :  Faith  in 
Chrift  is  the  fame  that  ever  it  was,  notwithftanding  the 
m.any  forms  of  worlhip  among  the  fons  of  men;  fome  of 
God's  fctdng  up,  and  fome  of  men's  fetting  up  ;  yet  among 
all  thefe,  the  objed  of  faith  is  the  fame,  and  faith  the  fame. 

In  the  nth  chapter  of  the  Hebrevos,  that  little  book  of 
martyrs,  the  apofiie  there  gives  }^ou  a  catalogue  of  the 
mi<^hty  things  that  have  been  done  by  the  faith  of  God's 
people  y  he  begins  with  Abel  ',  by  faith  Abel  offered  a  more 
exceUe?it  facrijice  than  Cain,  by  which  he  obtained  ivitnefs 
thatheivasrighteousy  God  teftifying  of  his  gifts;  and  by  it, 
he  being  dead,  yet  fpeaketh  ;  by  faith  Enoch  ivas  tranjlated 
that  he  Jhould  not  fee  death,  and  ivas  not  found,  becaufe 
God  tranfiated  him^  for  before  his  tranflatiou,  he  had  this 
tejlimofiy,  that  he  pleafed  God ;  and  fo  the  apoftle  there 
goes  to  Noah,  Abraham,  Ifaac,  Jacob,  Jofeph  and  Mofes : 
And  vohat  fiall  1  fay  -more,  faith  he,  for  the  time  zvould 
fail  ?ne  to  tell  0/ Gideon,  and  0/ Barak,  and  of  Sampfon, 
and  Jeptha,    of  David,  Saixiuel,    and  of  the  prophets,  vcho 

through 


god's  Wonderful  Love  to  Mankind:      32^ 

through  faith  fuhdued  ki72gdoms,  wrought  right  eon f?iefsy 
obtained  promifes,  /topped  the  mouths  of  lions,  and  quenched 
ihe  'Violence  of  fir^,  efcaped  the  edge  of  the  fiuord,  out  of 
iveaknefs  were^nade  firong,  turned  to  flight  the  armies  of 
the  aliens.  All  thefe  great  and  noble  things  were  done  by 
faith  ;  it  was  the  afped  their  fouls  had  upon  Chrift  the 
Mediator  between  God  and  man  j  it  was  their  trufl:  and 
reliance  upon  God  through  Chrift  the  Mediator  that  did 
fupport  and  uphold  them  in  all  they  did  and  fuffered.  This 
faith  is  ftill  the  fame. 

There  are  many  faiths  in  the  world  befide,  but  they 
will  prove  but  the  faith  of  hypocrites.  Some  have  a  faith, 
that  if  they  do  this  and  the  other  work,  they  fay  you  may 
truft  your  fouls  upon  thefe  good  v/orks ;  but  this  is  not 
the  faith  of  Abraham,  the  father  of  the  faithful.  But  fome 
called  Chriftians  are  gone  fo  far  in  the  dodrine  of  me- 
rits, that  they  think  they  can  do  enough  for  their  own 
felvation,  and  for  their  friends  and  relations  too  ;  that  there 
may  be  more  merit  ftill  over  and  above,  that  others  may 
have  benefit  by  the  merit  of  their  works  of  fupereroga- 
tion  :  But  this  is  not  the  faith  of  Abraham,  and  other 
faints,  by  which  they  wrought  fuch  wonders  in  the  world. 
I  would  not  have  men  truft  at  all  in  their  own  works 
for  falvation,  but  truft  in  Chrift  alone,  who  is  able  to 
fc2ve,  to  the  uttermofl-,  all  that  come   to  God  by    him. 

But  fome  will  objed  that  we  are  taught  the  doctrine  of 
faith  in   Chrift,  and  juftification   by   him. 

WqW,  for  my  part,  my  tongue  fhall  as  foon  drop  out 
of  my  mouth,  as  oppofe  the  dodrine  of  being  juftified  by 
faith  in  Chrift,  But,  let  me  tell  you,  this  may  be  mif- 
applied  :  If  a  man  believe  that  he  is  juftified  by  faith  in 
Chrift,  and  yet  knows,  in  his^  own  confcience,  that  he  is 
condemned,  he  believeth  a  lie  ',  he  is  feduced  and  de- 
ceived. A  man  cannot  be  juftified  by  Chrift,  when  the 
Spirit  of  Chrift  condemneth  him  :  Such  a  one,  when  he 
comes  to  lay  down  his  head  upon  his  dying  pillow,  all 
his  faith  will  fty  away.  I  have  met  with  fome  inftances, 
lamentable  inftances,  of  thofe  that  were  called  Chriftians, 
that  have  made  a  profeftion  of  religion,  and  at  laft  have 
laid   down   their  heads  in   forrow.     If  this  be   your  maf- 

take, 


J24      god's  Wondfrful  Love  to  Mankind. 

take,    confider,    while  you  have  time,    that  you   may  die 
in    peace. 

Now  the  propofition  and  tender  of  the  love  of  God 
to  m.ankind,  hath  always  carried  that  limitation  with  it, 
that  every  one  in  the  world  ought  to  obferve  ;  if  a  man 
hope  to  be  faved  by  Chrift,  he  mud  be  ruled  by  him  ; 
It  is  contrary  to  all  manner  of  reafon,  that  the  devil 
fhould  rule  a  man,  and  Chrift  be  his  Saviour  :  The  whole 
tenor  of  the  New  Teftament  is  againft  it  (pray  read  it 
as  oft  as  you  pleafe,  for  it  is  a  good  exercife)  you  will 
find  the  tme  Chriftian's  faith  to  be  this,  that  he  that  hath 
faith  in  Chrift  hath  an  operation  upon  him  for  the  clean- 
ling  his  heart,  and  purifying  and  purging  his  confcience 
from  dead  works,  that  he  may  ferve  the  living  God  ;  though 
he  hath  been  a  fervant  of  the  devil,  it  will  make  him  leave 
his  former  fervitude,  and  bring  him  under  the  influence  of 
another  law,  the  law  of  the  fpirit  of  life  in  Chrift  Jefus^ 
which  will  make  him  free  from  the  law  of  fn  and  death. 
The  apoftle  fets  down  the  feveral  conditions  he  had  palled 
through  j  Iivas  alive  without  the  law  once  ;  he  thought  him- 
ielf  a  man,  a  brave  man,  a  man  of  underrcanding,  that 
had  profited  amiong  the  Jews  ;  I  was  alive,  having  refped: 
to  that  law  which  fnould  have  been  my  governor  j  but 
when  the  commajtdment  cayne,  fin  revived  and  I  died.  He 
had  read  the  law,  the  commandment,  manytim.es,  and  had 
been  at  the  reading  of  it  in  the  fynagogiie  ;  but  there  was 
a  commin^  of  the  commandment  which  he  had  not  been 
acquainted  with  ;  there  was  a  writing  of  the  law  of  God 
in  his  heart  j  when  he  came  to  this  inVard  work  upon  him, 
where  was  then  the  life  he  lived  I  When  the  command- 
ment came  fin  revived,  and  I  died  :  There  was  a  profef- 
fing  life  he  form.erly  lived,  .but  he  was  flain  by  the  power 
of  the  commandment,  it  laid  him  in  the  duft  as  a  flain  man  ; 
vhen  he  was  in  a  flain  condition  he  found  out  that  law  in 
him  that  was  the  law  of  iin  and  death,  and  this  caufed  a 
combat  and  a  war  in  him  ;  I  find  a  lawy  faith  he,  that 
when  I  vjould  do  good,  evil  is  prefent  with  me  ;  for  I  de^ 
light  in  the  law  of  God  in  the  inner  fuan  ;  but  I  fee  an- 
other law  in  my  inew.bers  warring  againfl  the  law  of  my 
ifiindy   and  bringing   me  into    captivity   to    the  law   of  ftn^ 

which 


god's  Wonderful  Love  to  Mankind,       j2^ 

which  is  in  my  members  :  Now  this  brought  him  to  a  pover- 
ty of  fpirit,  into  a  fenfe  of  his  miferable  condition,  and 
then  he  cries  out,  O  wretched  man  that  I  am,  who  /hall 
deliver  me  from  this   body  of  death  I 

Now  Tome  people  in  this  day,  they  are  like  the  apoftle, 
they  have  a  law  in  their  7neuibers  warring  againft  the  law  of 
their  minds ;  the  good  that  they  wotdd  do  they  do  not,  and 
they  can  go  no  further  :  But  the  apoftle  Paul  did  reach 
further,  though  he  did  not  in  that  flate  know  deliverance, 
yet  he  had  a  faith  that  he  fhould  be  delivered,  and  that 
he  fhould  not  be  miferable  all  his  days.  Thus  having 
led  the  Romans  into  the  fcveral  ftates  through  which  he 
pafl'ed,  he  brings  them  to  a  further  ftate,  the  law  of  the 
fpirit  of  life  in  Chrifl  i^us  hath  made  tne  free  from  the 
law  of  fin  and  death  :  ^^d  now  there  is  7io  co7idemnation 
to  them  that  are  in  Chrifl  Jefus.  How  ihall  we  know  this  ? 
They  vjalk  not  after  the  flefh,  hut  after  the  fpirit.  Now 
Paid  v/as  come  to  that  fandified  ftate,  that  ftate  of  free» 
dom  and  liberty  which  Chrift  Jefus  will  bring  all  thofe 
unto  that  believe  in  him. 

Holy  men,  in  former  days,  did  experience  and  find  a 
great  ftrife  and  warfare  in  their  own  hearts,  they  would 
ail  do  well,  and  exercife  a  confcience,  void  of  offence,  to- 
wards God  and  towards  man  ;  but  there  is  a  law  of  fin 
that  wars  in  their  members  ;  if  we  yield  to  it  it  leads  to 
fin  and  death  ;  but  if  wc  yield  ourfelves  to  the  laiu  of 
the  fpirit  of  life,  there  is  a  power  that  is  derived  from 
the  Mediator,  that  will  tranflate  the  foul  out  of  the  king- 
dom  of  darknefs  and  fin,  which  the  devil  is  the  prince  of, 
and  bring  it  into  the  kingdom  of  God's    dear  Son, 

There  muft  be  a  real  change  wrought  in  us  before  we 
can  come  to  God,  and  to  fellowfhip  and  communion  with 
God,  which  alone  can  make  the  foul  happy.  Let  this  be 
the  exercife  of  every  one  of  us  to  adore  and  magnify  the 
great  mercy  and  the  kindnefs  of  God,  that  he  hath  not 
withdrawn  his  fpirit  from  you,  but  hath  placed  a  monitor 
in  your  bofom^s  that  calls  upon  you  to  ceafe  to  do  evil, 
and  learn  to  do  well,  and  to  confider  that  the  wages  of 
ftn  is  death  :  Here  is  a  fin,  I  may  commit  it ;  there  is 
a  temptation  before  me,  but  I  know  there  is  a  bait  and 

a 


^26         GOD*S    WONDEKTUL   LoVE   tO   AlANKINTf. 

a  hook  y  I  may  fwallow  it  if  I  will,  but  if  I  do,  it  will 
be  my  ruin  :  Would  I  come  to  eternal  death,  and  have 
my  portion  with  liars  and  wicked  perfons  in  the  kingdom 
of  darknefs,  where  the  zvo?'m  dicth  not^  and  the  fire  is  not 
quenched  ^  Or  would  I  have  my  portion  with  faints  and 
angels  ?  If  I  would  have  my  portion  with  the  blefled  in 
the  kingdom  of  God  when  I  die,  I  muft  walk  in  the  way 
that  leads  to  it  ;  but  the  gate  is  flrait  and  the  way  nar- 
row^ and  feiv  there  he  that  find  it  ;  labour  then  to  be  one 
of  thofe   few. 

But  what  fignifies  our  labour  (fome  may  fay)  if  we  caa 
do  nothing  that  is  goody  not  fo  much  as  think  a  good 
thought  ?  What  fignifies  our  labour  ?  All  the  labours  and 
endeavours  in  the  whole  world  cannot  make  a  man  happy. 

I  no7/  fpeak  to  a  people  to  whom  God  doth  vouch- 
fafe  the  help  and  affiftance  of  his  grace  and  Spirit,  and  the 
vifitations  of  his  love  and  power  j  vou  mufi:  now  endea- 
vour to  do  fomething  ',  if  a  m^an  endeavour,  with  the  help 
of  God,  he  may  do  a  great  deal  of  good,  and  Ihun  a 
great  deal  of  evil  :  Though  all  our  endeavours,  in  our 
own  power  and  ftrength  can  fignify  nothing,  yet  they  are 
required  by  God,  and  by  joining  them  with  his  grace, 
and  layin^r  hold  of  opportunities,  by  divine  afiiftance,  we 
may  do  what  God  will  accept.  But  if  a  man  do  any 
thing  in  his  own  power  and  ftrength,  whether  praver,  hear- 
ing, reading,  meditation,  or  any  other  duty,  he  had  as  good 
let  it  alone. 

I  would  confider  you  as  thofe  that  God  hath  followed 
with  his  grace  and  the  manifeftation  of  his  fpirit  ;  this  is 
given  to  every  man  to  profit  withal,  and  every  man  hath 
opportunity  to  work  with  it ;  but  he  muft  work  while  it 
is    day,  for  the  night   cometh  when  no   man  can  work. 

Let  every  one  of  us  that  are  now  met  together,  labour 
to  be  fenfible  of  the  love  of  God  to  us,  and  love  him 
above  all,  and  cxprei's  our  love  by  a  willing  and  persevering 
obedience,  that  we  may  have  the  love  of  God  fined  abroad 
upon  our  hearts  by  the  Holy  GhoJ^,  and  offer  up  living 
praifes  to  him  through  Jefus  Chrift,  who  hath  loved  uSy 
and  wafied  us  from  our  fiins  in  his  own  blood,  and  hatk 
made  us  kings  and  priefts  unto  God  and  his  Father  :  To 
him  be  glory  and  dominion  forever  and  ever*     Amen. 


SERMON     XXVIIL 

Salvation  from  Sin  hy  Jesus  Christ. 

breached  at  Devon SUIRE-Hov SEy    Auguft  p,    i6V;r. 

IT  is  a  general  do^lrine  in  the  world,  that  no  man  by 
any  means  can  ever  be  fet  free  from  fm  in  this  life  :  This 
is  univerfally  received  among  almoft  all  Chriftians,  in 
all  churches ;  and  though  they  differ  ever  fo  much  in  other 
things,  yet  they  agree  in  this  ',  fo  that  this  dodrine  hath 
got  a  fway  in  the  world,  and  it  is  accounted  a  great  delufion 
and  a  herefy,  and  a  grand  error  for  any  to  <^ueftion  the 
truth  of  it. 

Now  while  a  man  is  of  that  beUef,  that  there  is  an  im- 
polTibility  of  living  without  fin,  and  of  breaking  down  the 
kingdom  of  fatan  in  any  one  foul  in  the  world,  how  caa 
men  hope  or  believe  that  righteoufnefs  ihould  prevail  irr 
the  heart  of  one  man  ?  There  is  neither  king  nor  beggar, 
nor  bifhop  nor  a  gofpel  minifter,  but  the  devil  muft  have 
a  rule  and  government  in  him,  fo  long  as  he  lives  in  the 
world.  As  long  as  this  is  believed,  it  is  not  pofTible  chat 
the  other  belief  ihould  take  place  ',  it  is  madnefs  to  think 
that  I  muft  be  under  the  rule  and  government  of  fatan  if  I 
am  under  the  government  of  the  Son  of  God,  And  it 
is  ftill  greater  madnefs  to  fay,  that  Chrift  and  the  devil  are 
both  my  governors  and  rulers :  It  is  prodigious  folly  and 
madnefs  to  fpeak  after  this  manner. 

This  belief  prevails  over  all  men  ;  over  the  wife,  and 
mighty,  and  noble,  and  learned,  that  they  can  never  be 
freed  from  the  power  of  fin  in  this  world,  but  thiit  the 
devil  will  lead  them  into  fm  every  day  ;  let  men  be  ever 
fo  fober,  ever  fo  abftemious  m  their  lives  j  let  them  fpend 
ever  fo  many  hours  in  prayer  every  day  j  let  them  come 
to  meetings  and  hear  fermons,  and  write  them,  and  re- 
peat them,  and  do  what  they  will,  here  is  a  bar  of  un- 
belief that  lies  in  the  way,  that  makes  men  depart  from 
the  living  God,  and  his  power,  and  lofe  the  benefit  they 
fhall  receive  from  Chrift  ;  And  therefore  they  go  to  ob- 
tain 


^28       Salvation  from  Sin  hy  Jesus  Christ, 

tain  it  another  way,  that  is,  to  have  the  righteoufnefs  of 
Chrift  imputed  to  them,  and  they  fhall  be  pure  and  holy 
in  the  fight  of  God,  when  they  are  polluted  in  their  own 
eyes  ;  and  when  they  fee  their  daily  failings,  infirmities 
and  corruptions,  yet  God  may  not  fee  them  ;  but  that  he 
fees  them  holy,  juft  and  righteous   in   his  Son. 

What  ftrange  kind  of  dodrine  is  this  ?  I  mud  prefume 
that  God  will  fee  me  in  his  Son,  Jefus  Chrift,  when  I 
never  was  in  Chrift  :  How  can  this  be  ?  He  that  is  in 
Chrijly  is  a  new  ci-eatnre  ;  old  things  are  done  avoay^  and 
all  tki??gs  are  become  new  :  But  if  there  be  old  things  re- 
maining ftill,  and  I  am  not  become  new,  fhall  I  prefume 
that  I  am  in  Chrift,  and  that  God  will  fee  me  in  his 
Son  I  AJ^hen  people  come  to  ufe  the  underftandine  that 
God  hath  given  them,  they  will  look  upon  themfelves  as 
barred  out  by  their  unbelief,  that  the  nations  have  drunk 
in  ;  and  it  is  as  fweet  to  them  as  the  honey  and  the  ho- 
ney-comb. 

But,  blefted  be  God,  many  have  vomited  it  up  already  ; 
If  they  would  have  placed  this  doctrine  upon  man's  na- 
tural ability,  I  would  have  faid  Amen  to  it.  I  know  there 
is  none  of  us  all  have  a  natural  ability  and  power  to  de- 
liver his  own  foul  from  ftn  and  fatan  ;  but  when  they 
come  to  place  it  upon  God,  that  though  the  l^ord  make 
bare  his  arin^  and  reveal  h'u  poiver  ;  though  they  come 
to  have  the  grace  of  God,  that  ftill  they  could  not  be  de- 
livered from  fin,  this  hath  blafphemy  at  the  bottom  of  it. 
The  other  refleded  upon  man's  power  ;  this  refleds  upon 
the  power  of  God  Almighty  :  That  the  devil  hath  got 
fuch  a  power  over  us,  that  God  hath  not  power  over  us, 
nor  can  have  power  and  dominion  over  us,  fo  that  of  a 
whole  nation  he  cannot  have  one  man  to  ferve  him. 

Much  might  be  faid  in  anfwer  to  this  :  AJ^hen  men  are 
once  willing  to  ferve  God,  they  will  be  willing  to  leave 
the  fervice  of  the  devil.  There  is  no  way  to  anfwer  that 
good  wifh,  but  by  wating  upon  God  for  the  revealing  of 
his  power  :  I  pray  God  that  when  you  come  to  a  meeting, 
you  may  fay.  Lord,  let  thy  power  go  forth  upon  my 
heart  j  let  thy  arm  be  made  bare,  and  deliver  me  from  the 
power  and  dominion  of  fni.     Some  will  fay  they  feel  God's 

power 


Salvation  from  Sin  by  Jesus  Christ,  2^S> 
power  in  a  meeting  ;  I  feel  the  po>x^er  of  God  working^ 
upon  my  heart,  in  order  to  the  taking  away  fin  and  tranf- 
greflion,  and  giving  me  vidlory  over  it,  through  the  Lord 
Jefus  Chrift.  If  they  feel  this  power  of  God  upon  them, 
it  is  their  duty  to  believe  it  and  depend  upon  it  :  If  I  be- 
lieve it,  I  muft  wait  for  the  didates  of  it,  and  believe  that 
I  fhall  be  able  to  do  all  things  through  Chrift  that  Jlrength- 
ens  me  :  Then  fiith  will  come  forth  into  works,  and  ap- 
pear to  be  a  living  fiith. 

You  may  remember  what  the  apoftle  James  faith,  as  the 
body  without  the  Spirit  is  dead,  fo  faith  without  works  is 
dead  alfo.  As  foon  as  a  man  comes  to  join  with  the  mighty 
power  of  God,  he  will  be  able  to  withftand  temptation  : 
If  he  comes  into  evil  company,  he  will  deny  them  and  not 
comply  with  them  ;  he  will  find  then  fomething  of  a  power 
and  ability  to  ferve  God  ;  though  he  is  not  come  to  per- 
fection, yet  he  is  walking  in  the  way  of  holinefs,  and  pref- 
Jlng  forward  towards  the  jnark  cf  the  high  calling  of  God 
in  Chrift  Jefus  :  He  will  fay,  I  have  got  a  little  nearer  than 
I  was  towards  the  place  where  I  would  be,  tov/ards  that 
life  which  I  would  live  and  die ;  then  let  death  come  when' 
it  pleafeth   God,  it  fhall  be  welcome. 

This  is  the  wickednefs  of  many  in  the  world,  they  will 
not  live  fuch  a  life  as  they  would  be  willing  to  die  in. 
They  cannot  come  at  it  unlefs  it  be  given  them  to  believe, 
for  it  is  the  gift  of  God  ;  they  muft  come  to  their  governor 
and  leader,  which  goes  before,  to  the  gift  of  God,  which  is 
eternal  Hfe;  then  let  death  come  when  it  will,  if  I  have  the 
gift  of  eternal  life. 

It  is  a  miferable  thing  to  think  that  there  are  many  that 
have  not  laid  hold  of  eternal  life :  It  is  manifefted,  that  we 
may  lay  hold  of  it,  there  is  a  hand  of  faith  joining  with  it. 
When  a  man  comes  to  lay  hold  of  eternal  life,  this  life 
will  purify  him  and  fandify  him,  at  leaf!:  by  degrees,  till 
he  be  wholly  iandified  in  body,  foul  and  fpirit :  This  is  that 
which  the  apoftle  writes  in  one  of  his  epiftles,  your  falvatioft- 
is  7iearer  than  when  you  at  firft  believed.  When  they  firft 
believed,  their  falvation  was  a  pretty  way  off.  He  de- 
fcribes   falvation    to    be  the   end   of  their  faith  and  hope. 

When  a  man  comes  to  be  dehvered  from  his  fins,  he 
fhall  ferve  God  Axithout  fearj    but  when  <i  jQian  womes  to 

T  t  live 


jjo       Salvation  from  Sin  by  Jesus  Christ. 

live  by  faith,  he  lliall  overcome  ;  he  is  a  good  foldier  of 
Jefus  Chrift,  and  he  mufl:  fight  valiantly  under  his  banner, 
till  he  gets  a  vidory  over  all  his  enemies,  and  then  his  fal- 
vation  is  much  nearer  than  when  he  at  firft  believed. 

I  would  I  could  fay  fo  of  fome  of  you  ;  for  I  fear 
your  falvation  is  farther  off :  Some  go  ftraggiing  here  and 
there,  as  fneep  not  having  a  fhcpherd  ;  this  is  that  v/hich 
my  fpirit  is  exercifed  with.  You  that  are  travellers  to- 
wards the  kingdom  of  God,  it  is  the  wonderful  grace  and 
mercy  of  God,  that  ever  it  (hould  come  into  your  minds 
to  feek  the  kingdom  of  God,  and  the  righteoufnefs  there- 
of. They  that  have  obtained  this  mercy  from  God,  Ihall 
receive  and  enjoy  other  mercies,  better  mercies  ',  bleffed 
are  they  that  hunger  and  thirfl  after  righteoufnefs  :  That  is 
one  mercy  j  but  there  is  another  mercy,  they  fhall  be  fil- 
led 5  they  ihall  be  fatisfied  :  W^hen  a  man  comes  to  this, 
he  mud:  take  up  a  daily  crofs,  and  exercile  felf- denial  ; 
but  if  he  follow  Chrift,  he  fhall  be  fatisfied  j  he  Ihall  then 
have  nothing  but  peace  and  joy  ;  he  fhall  then  fing  praifes 
and  glory  to  God  in  the  higheft,  and  to  the  Lamb  for- 
ever. 

There  is  none  can  underftand  the  glory  that  is  laid  up 
for  thofe  that  take  up  their  crofs  and  follow  Chrift,  and 
love  his  appearing.  Thi^s  is  the  greateft  blcffing  that  God 
doth  give  unto  his  people,  he  hath  fent  his  Son  Jefus  to 
blefs  us,  and  turn  us  from  our  iniquities.  This  is  a  blef- 
iing  indeed.  Take  heed  that  you  do  not  admit  of  any  new 
terms :  Do  not  think  to  bring  God  Almighty  to  new  arti- 
cles, the  terms  are  declared  and  concluded  on  already  :  If 
you  will  obtain  the  bleftlng,  you  muft  be  turned  every  one 
of  you  from  your  iniquities :  The  terms  are  already  made, 
the  law  of  God  muft  be  written  in  the  heart  and  inward 
thoughts y  and  you  muft  clofe  with  that  power  that  will  write 
the  law  in  your  hearts,  and  by  travelling  towards  the  king- 
dom of  God,  you  will  fee  the  coming  of  that  kingdom  in 
you. 

It  was  the  joy  of  my  foul,  that  I  faw  the  kingdom  of 
Chrift  would  be  {tx.  up  in  my  heart,  before  it  was  fet  up  there  ; 
then  I  law  the  Lord's  wonderful  work,  and  there  was  a  great 
alteration  in  me,  when  the  Lord  was  pleafed  to  wean  me 

from 


Salvation  from  Sin  by  Jesus  Christ.       ^ji 

from  the  world's  bread,  and  take  off  my  heart,  and  wean 
it  from  worldly  lufts,  from  the  world's  joys^  and  pieafures, 
and  fafhions,  and  the  world's  honour  and  reputation  :  I  fay 
the  Lord  was  plcafed  to  wean  me  from,  thefe  things,  and 
brought  me  to  a  holy  refignation,  to  give  up  my  heart  to 
him  :  If  I  have  joy,  it  muft  be  from  the  Holy  S})irit ,  if  t 
have  plcafure  it  muft  be  in  the  prefence  of  God,  who  in  the 
multitude  of  my  thoughts  within  me  made  his  comforts  de- 
light my  foul ;  and  if  he  bring  not  comfort  to  you,  you 
will  never  have  it  j  you  cannot  expect  it  till  you  do  believe  ; 
and  when  you  have  faith,  you  can  feel  the  kingdom  of  God 
within  you  :  There  muft  be  the  new  birth,  the  work  of 
regeneration,  for  except  a  man  be  horn  again  he  cannot 
fee  the  kingdom  jof  God ;  there  muft  be  a  tranflation  from, 
death  to  life,  there  muft  be  a  turning  out  of  the  old  bottom 
and  a  fixing  upon  a  new  bottom,  upon  Chrifl  Jefus  the 
rock  of  ages  y  there  muft  be  a  fubjedion  to  his  holy  power 
and  government,   elfe  you  cannot  fee  the  kingdom  of  God. 

Many  have  gone  on  in  a  profelfion  many  years,  and 
never  faw  the  beauty  of  it  ',  and  every  little  trifle  in  the 
world  hath  diverted  them,  and  drawfi  them  away.  This 
and  the  other  pleafure  hath  drawn  away  their  hearts,  they 
have  feen  the  glory  of  the  world,  which  hath  captivated 
them  :  But  thofe  that  make  a  profeftion  of  the  truth,  and 
have  feen  the  beauty  and  glory  of  the  kingdom  of  Chrift, 
they  fhould  be  (hy  of  returning  to  the  world  again,  for  the 
apoftle  faith,  it  happejied  to  them  according  to  the  true  pro- 
verhy  the  dog  is  turned  to  his  own  vomit  again,  and  the  fow 
that  was  wafied  to  her  wallowing  in  the  mire  ;  it  had  been  better 
for  them  never  to  have  kiioxvn  the  way  of  right eoufnefs^  than  af- 
ter they  have  known  it,  to  turn  from  the  holy  commayidment 
delivered  to  them  :  They  made  a  profefTion,  and  were  mem- 
bers of  a  vifible  church,  and  had  a  name  to  live,  but  they 
were  inwardly  dead,  the  fight  of  the  kingdom  of  God  is 
not  given  to  iuch,  but  unto  babes,  that  have  a  divine  birth, 
and  that  deftre  the  ftncere  milk  of  the  word^  that  they  may 
groiv  thereby.  God  hath  hid  thefe  things  from  the  wife  and 
prudent,   and  revealed  them   unto    babes. 

I   fpeak   to  thofe   who   are   here   this   day,    that  would 
receive  fome  kindnefs  from  God,  and  that  defire  the  know- 
ledge 


JJ2        Salvation  from  Sin  by  Jesus  Christ* 

ledge  of  his  ways,  and  that  the  myfteries  of  his  kingdom 
may  be  revealed  to  you,  let  your  minds  be  retired  and 
you  fhall  find  the  great  things  belonging  to  your  peace 
made  known  to  you.  We  have  fpoken  much  of  this, 
but  I  would  not  have  you  know  it  only  by  our  fayings, 
1  would  have  you  go  into  yourfclves,  to  fee  whether 
God  hath  not  beftowed  this  grace  and  blefiing  upon  you  : 
If  God  hath  given  you  grace,  do  not  turn  it  Into  wanton- 
nefs  ;  do  not  abufe  the  grace  of  God.  What  is  it  that 
you  do  when  the  grace  of  God  hath  convinced  you,  that 
iuch  and  fuch  a  thing  is  fin,  and  if  you  do  it,  it  will 
turn  to  your  ruin  ?  Dare  you  venture  to  commit  fin  af- 
ter you  are  convinced  of  it  ?  O  take  heed  of  doing  def- 
pite  to  the  fpirit  of  grace,  and  of  grieijing  the  Holy  Spi~ 
rit,   ivlierehy  you  are  fealed  to  the  day    of  redemption, 

I  wifh  that  the  weight  of  this  confideration  might  lie 
upon  you,  and  that  a  holy  dread  and  av/e  of  God  might 
be  wrought  in  your  hearts,  that  you  might  be  kept  from 
finning  againft  God.  You  know  there  is  a  general  out- 
cry againft  prefumptuous  finning,  finning  againft  fight :  Why 
fliould  not  we  all  cry  out  againfi:  it  ?  It  is  a  moft  dread- 
ful thing  for  any  man  to  fin  againft  his  knowledge  and 
conviction  ,*  if  any  of  us  have  been  guilty  of  finning  aganfl: 
light,  let  fuch  a  one  fay,  I  have  done  iniquity,  I  will  do 
fo  no  more,  but  enter  into  covenant  with  the  Lord,  and 
fay,  O  Lord,  fo  far  as  thou  haft  revealed  thy  will  unto 
me,  I  will  obey  it  ;  I  will  delight  to  do  thv  will,  O 
God,  tho'  I  crofs  mine  own  will.  Whatever  I  crofs  I  will 
not  crofs  God's  Holy  Spirit,  by  which  I  may  be  fealed 
to  the  day  of  redemption  ',  I  will  never  do  this  though  I 
hazard  my  chief  intereft  in  the  world  :  This  is  the  tem- 
per of  a  true  Chriftian,  and  I  pray  God  make  you  all  of 
this  mind. 

And  now  my  friends,  you  that  dcfire  to  fee  this  great 
work  wrought  in  yourielVes,  commit  the  whole  work  to 
God,  and  ti-ouble  not  yourfelves  about  it.  I  am  fure  God 
will  carry  on  his  own  work,  and  bring  down  the  devil's 
kingdom,  and  rebuke  that  unclean  fpint  that  is  gone  forth 
over  the  whole  nation,  and  pour  out  abundantly  of  his 
Holy  Spirit  to  carry  on  a  glorious   reformation.      This   I 

believe 


Salvation  from  Sin  hy  Jesus  Cnnis-r.       ^^^^ 

believe  God  will  certainly  do,  from  what  he  hath  wrought 
in  my  own  foul.  I  know  not  what  mftruments  are  to  be 
employed  in  the  work,  I  leave  that  to  the  Lord  ;  but  the 
kingdom  of  Chrift  fhall  be  advanced,  and  it  fhall  be  out- 
wardly, and  a  befom  of  deftrudion  fhall  fweep  away  all 
his  enemies  from  the  earth,  and  the  wrath  of  God  fhall  burn 
againft  them  ;  but  there  is  an  obduration  hath  been  upon 
the  nations  of  the  world,  and  fomething  hath  flood  in  the 
way  in  all  generations. 

But,  however,  I  am  fure  we  all  may  well  fay,  that 
Chrift  is  the  Saviour  of  all  men,  but  efpecially  of  them  that 
believe.  He  hath  faved  this  city  and  nation  from  the 
plagues  and  vengeance  that  hang  over  us.  Many  years  the 
Lord  hath  fpared  us,  and  waited  to  be  gracious  for  a 
long  time,  to  fee  if  we  will  at  laft  turn  to  him.  How 
long  the  Mediator  will  intercede  on  our  behalf,  wc  cah- 
not  tell  ',  there  is  a  time  when  the  long-fuffering  of  God 
will  come  to  an  end.  God  hath  brought  a  fcourge  up- 
on the  nations  round  about  us,  and  the  flames  of  his 
WTath  hath  kindled  upon  them,  and  deftrudion  hath  over- 
taken them  ;  how  foon  it  may  be  our  lot,  we  know  not  | 
all  our  money,  our  filver  and  gold,  and  valour  and  cou- 
rage, will  not  be  able  to  ward  it  off,  if  the  Lord  but 
blow  upon  us.  It  is  even  at  the  door  ;  there  is  but  one 
way  to  fave  us,  and  that  is  turning  to  the  Lord,  and 
crying  to  the  Lord  for  the  continuance  of  his  mercies  and 
long-fuffering,  and  patience  towards  us.  In  this  cry  to  the 
Lord,  let  us  all  unite,  that  are  lovers  of  the  nation,  and 
let  us  join  our  earneft  fupplications  in  this  work,  feeing 
the  Lord  hath  made  us  the  monuments  of  his  mercy  and 
preferving  goodnefs. 

W^e  have  been  continually  furrounded  with  war  and 
blood,  and  flames  and  deftruclion  ;  and  the  cry  of  the  or- 
phans hath  been  heard  from  other  nations.  And  while  they 
have  been  confumed  with  frames,  and  deluged  in  ftreams 
of  blood,  we  have  fat  under  our  own  vines  and  fig-trees; 
but  judgments  hang  over  the  nation,  and  whether  they 
will  fall  or  not,  the  Lord  knows  :  But  what  fhall  we  do 
for  the  good  of  our  nation,  and  cities  and  families,  but 
labour  every  one,  in  the  fear  of  God,  to  reform  our  lives, 

and 


j^^       Salvation  from  Sin  ly  Christ  Jesus* 
and  to   take   heed  that  we   fin   not   again  ft   the  light,    left 
we  die,   and  perifh  in  the  middle  of  thofe   terrible  judg- 
ments that  hang  over  us. 

Let  us  turn  from  our  evil  ways,  and  depart  from  all 
iniquity,  that  the  kingdom  of  Chrift  may  be  fet  up  in 
ourfelves.  It  is  the  righteous  in  the  nation  that  the  Lord 
looks  at,  and  for  their  fakes  he  will  fpare  a  nation.  If  there 
be  a  people  among  us  that  walk  in  humility,  and  lament 
and  mxourn  for  the  abo^ninations  committed  in  the  m.idft 
of  us,  God  will  have  regard  to  them,  and  he  will  hear  the  ' 
cries  and  the  fuppUcations  of  a  praying  people. 

Friends,  you  that  cannot  make  ufe  of  fword  and  fpear 
for  the  faving  of  a  nation,  you  may  do  good  by  your 
prayers,  and  turning  to  the  Lord  with  an  unfeigned  heart, 
and  let  your  (incerity  appear  before  him.  If  I  would  take 
a  common  prayer-book  in  my  hands,  and  pray  ever  fo 
devoutly  and  folemnly,  if  I  be  not  fincere,  what  will  that 
do  ?  Or,  if  I  pray  without  a  book,  or  if  I  pray  without  a 
form,  or  rejed  the  form  that  others  have  made  for  me,  what 
will  this  avail  ?  But  the  ay  of  the  poor,  and  the  fighing  of 
the  needy,  and  the  effeBual  fervent  prayer  of  the  righteous^ 
hath  availed  ?nuch  for  the  faving  of  this  nation  many  years. 

Therefore,  I  exhort  you  all,  as  you  love  the  nation,  and 
as  you  love  youri^lves,  and  your  families  and  relations,  iin 
not  againft  the  Lord  ;  for  he  is  now  fetting  up  righte- 
oufnefs,  equity,  and  juftice,  and  it  ftiall  prevail  in  the  na- 
tion. God  hath  been  pleafed  to  gather  in  many,  that  have 
been  enemies,  that  are  now  turned  from  fm  to  God,  and 
led  by  die  truth  :  And  it  is  their  greateft  joy,  that  now 
they  are  no  longer  fervants  of  fin,  but  are  now  become  the 
fervants  of  God. 

Now  truth  will  prevail,  and  righteoufnefs  go  forth  as 
the  morning  fun,  and  we  hope  the  Lord  will  ihew  mercy 
to  us  for  the  glory  of  hi§  own  name,  though  we  are  an  un- 
worthy people:  It  will  be  matter  of  joy  and  gladnefs  to 
us,  if  the  kingdom  of  God  be  come  ;  then  we  may  fay  our 
prayer  is  anfwered.  ^q  have  often  prayed,  thy  kingdom  come, 
and  thy  ivill  be  done  in  earth  as  it  is  in  Heaven.  If  the  will 
of  God  be  done,  then  I  can  do  mine  own  will  no  longer, 
then  I  can  be  led  away  by  fata n  no  longer  j  the  devil  will 

have 


The  Acceptable  Sacrifice.  ^^5* 

have  little  power,  if  I  do  God's  will  on  earth,  as  it  is  done 
in  Heaven  ;  then  praifes  will  arife  in  the  hearts  of  every 
one  that  delights  to  do  the  will  of  God,  and  God  will  carry 
on  his  work  for  the  glory  of  his  own  name,  and  for  the 
redemption  of  his  people,  that  Chrift  may  be  preached  for 
falvation  to  the  ends  of  the  earth, 

SERMON    XXIX. 

The  Acceptable   Sacrifice. 

Preached  at   Grace-Church- Street^   July  j,  i6c)2. 

AL  L  people  that  would  worfhip  God  and  meet 
together  for  that  purpofe,  they  had  need  have  a 
great  reverence  upon  their  minds,  and  a  holy 
fear  upon  their  fpirits,  that  when  they  enter  into  the 
houfe  of  the  Lord,  and  draw  nigh  to  the  living  God, 
they  might  not  ojfer  the  facrifice  of  fools ^  but  may  of- 
fer to  God  that  which  may  be  acceptable  to  him.  For 
all  worfhip,  and  all  religion,  and  all  offerings  and  oblati- 
ons that  ever  were  offered  to  God  by  any  people,  they 
have  had  a  return  unto  the  offerers  and  worfhippers,  either 
of  acceptance  or  rejedion.  Many  you  know  have  been 
rcjeded  tho'  they  have  offered,  and  many  have  been  ac- 
cepted of  God,  and  their  offerings  have  been  a  fweet  fmel- 
ling  faiiour  in  his  noftrils  ;  and,  I  hope,  we  are  aJl  of 
that  mind,  that  we  would  be  glad  to  have  our  worfhip,. 
aiud  fervice  and  offerings  to  God,  accepted  in  his  fight, 
and  that  our  prefent  affembling  together  might  be  for  the 
better,  and  that  every  one  might  have  an  aniVer  of  peace, 
and  of  acceptance  in  their  bofoms  j  but  that  can  never  be 
unlefs  men  be  qualified  and  prepared  in  their  drawing  nigh 
to  God,  and  in  all  our  offerings  and  worfhip  that  we 
perform,  our  hearts  be  prepared  according  to  the  preparatiou 
of  the  fancluary,  the  preparation  of  God's  clwelling  and 
holy  place. 

The  worfhippers  mufl  be  holy  ;   there  muft  be  the  fear 
of  God,  and  a.  reverence  of  the  great  God  upon  their  minds, 

before; 


^j5*  The  Acceptable  Sacrifice. 

before  people  can  offer  an  acceptable  facrifice  unto  him,  as 
the  holy  apoftle  faith,  Heb.  xi.  6  :  He  that  comet k  to 
Gofly  fnuft  /relieve  that  he  is  ;  which  iignifies,  that  a  pre- 
paration ought  to  be  in  the  minds  and  hearts  of  people 
that  would  draw  nij^h  to  God  ;  or  perform  any  fervice  or 
worihip  to  God,  they  muft  have  the  knowledge  of  the  God 
whom  they  worfhip,  they  muft  lirft  knoiv  that  he  is,  and 
that  he  is  a  rewarder  of  them  that  diligently  feek  him.  Here 
is  a  qualification  for  worfhippers,  for  religious  perfons  ;  as 
they  exped  when  they  meet  together  to  find  the  Lord  in 
the  midft  of  them,  they  muft  be  quahfied  accordingly,  there 
muft,  be  an  awe  ujgon  their  minds. 

I  am  in  the  prefen-ce  of  God,  I  have  an  expedation  from 
God,  that  he  will  open  his  abounding  treafury,  and  mi- 
nifter  fome  good  unto  me,  or  elfe  to  what  purpofe  do 
people  drav/'^iigh  to  God  ?  It  is  becaufe  they  would  have 
fomethins;  of  him  ;  but  they  muft  come  in  an  humble  pe- 
titioning frame  ;  he  giveth  grace  to  the  humble.  It  is  the 
lofty,  the  proud,  thofe  that  exalt  themfelves,  the  fat  and 
the  full,  that  want  nothing.  Thefe,  faith  the  prophet,  the 
Lord  beholdeth  afar  off.  A  proud  man  or  woman  cannot 
draw  nigh  to  God,  the  Lord  looks  upon  them  afar  off; 
nor  do  they  partake  of  thofe  divine  and  heavenly  com- 
forts and  bleflings,  and  counfels  and  inftrudions  that  the 
humble  mind  hath  the  promife  of  and  will  certainly  enjoy, 
the  humble,  God  will  teach,  he  will  InflriiB  the  meek  in 
his  way  ,*  but  what  is  this  to  the  lofty  mind  ?  What  is 
this  to  one  that  is  exalted,  and  conceited  and  puffed  up, 
and  reckons  himfelf  full  and  wanting  nothing,  while  he  is 
fwimming  in  the  ftreams  of  pleafures  of  this  world,  and 
favours  only  the  things  of  the  earth,  the  pleafures  of  a 
fenfual  mind  ?  Thefe  perfons  are  not  hungry,  and  fo  they 
are  not  fed  ;  they  are  not  thirfty,  and  fo  they  never  ob- 
tain that  which  can  fatisfy  the  foul.  Our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift 
pronounced  a  blefilng  upon  them  that  hunger  and  thirft  ; 
but  what  is   that  to  them  that  are  full  and  lack   nothing  ? 

So  my  friends,  in  this  and  all  other  religious  aflemblies, 
a  great  care  ought  to  be  upon  every  one,  that  their  com- 
ing together  to  wait  upon  the  Lord  may  be  in  that  reve- 
rence and  fear,  and  that  hope  and  expedation  at  the  hands 

of 


Th^  Acceptable  Sacrifice.  ^jy 

of.  G-'od,  that  they  might  be  bettered  by  it,  or  elfe  they 
all  ioTe  their  labour,  as  Cain  did  ;  he  v/ould  be  an  offer- 
er, he  offered  facrifice,  but  \^as  not  accepted  ,*  becaufe  hi^ 
mind  and  heart  Was  not  rii^ht  before  the  Lord,  his  lacrrficfe 
was  rejeded.  It  was  before  he  had  killed  his  brother  ;  ht 
had  great  guilt  upon  him,  before  he  had  killed  his  brother  j 
he  wanted  the  quaH^cation  of  well-doing  ;  if  thou  dojl  ivell^ 
/hah  thou  not  be  accepted  ?  But  if  thou  dofl  fiot  ivell,  fth 
Ues  at  thy  door.  He  was  got  into  evil  dom^^,  and  an  evil 
mind  hindered  his  acceptance  with  God  ;  fo  it  doth  with 
all  men  and  women  in  the  world  that  meddle  with  relimous 
Worfhip,  and  facrifice  to  God,  if  they  meddle  with  evil 
doing.  There  mull:  be  a  taking  off  the  mind  from  the 
evil  of  fm  and  corruption,  and  the  mind  mud  be  brought 
over  to  fomething  that  they  have  received  from  God  be- 
fore ever  they  can  be  accepted. 

You  know  the  general  dcnfiiriae  of  all  Protellants  is,  that 
^^e  have  no  acceptance  with  God  but  through  Jefus  Chrift^ 
We  have  no  way  to  pleafe  God,  nor  can  do  any  thing 
fliat  (hall  be  acceptable  in  his  fight,  but  thro'  one  only 
Mediator.  Now  if  I  ihould  go  to  v/orlhip  God,  or  per- 
form any  reHgious  duty  without  refped  and  deference  to 
the  {tn^^Q  and  participation  of  the  virtue  and  power  of  that 
only  Mediator,  how  can  I  be  accepted  ?  And  it  hath  plea- 
{^^d  God  out  of  his  infinite  love  to  m.ankind,  to  fend  this 
great  Mediator  into  the  world,  that  every  man  that  comes 
into  the  world  is  made  a  participant  of  fomething  of  the 
life  and  virtue  of  that  Mediator.  So  you  read,  John  i.  4, 
iii  Mfft  wm-  life:,  and  the  life  %vas  the  light  of  men,  the  true 
light  that  lighteth  every  man  that  cometh  into  the  vjorld  ; 
anil  that  with  refpect  to  men  whether  they  are  good  or 
no,  both  good  and  bad,  though  all  men  are  bad  by 
nature  :  So  that  tho'  they  are  children  of  wrath,  and 
heirs  of  eternal  damnation  in  their  natural  (late,  by.jea- 
fon  of  fin,  yet  for  all  that  this  one  Mediator,  \h  whom 
this  Ifght  hath  fhined,  hath  fent  foi;th  his  light  among  th^ 
fons- and  daughters  of  men,  that  is,  the  light  of  men,  that 
enlightens  every  one.  So  there  is  an"  offer  made  of  fome- 
thing that  prefents  itfelf  to  the  vie\x^  of  every  man  that 
is  gbodj  if  he  apply  his  mind  to  it,  he  rtic^y  have  that  goo7\ 

U  u  that 


^^B  The  Acceptable  Sacrifice. 

that  comes  by  Jefus  Chrifr  ,*  he  may  draw  nigh  to  God  ; 
as  bad  as  he  is,  he  hath  fome  good,  that  God  hath  bellowed 
upon  men  good  and  bad.  There  is  no  man  fuch  a  bar, 
but  he  hath  fome  truth  in  him  ;  there  is  no  man  fo  ungodly, 
but  he  knows  that  which  is  pure  and  holy,  that  v/hich  hath 
reproved  him,  checked  and  convinced  him  of  his  ungodlinefs. 
This  prefents  itfelf  to  the  view  of  every  man  and  wo- 
man,  and  calls  them  to  repentance. 

Now  for  men  to  make  a  (hew  and  pretence  to  worfhip, 
and  not  have  regard  to  the  glory  of  God,  how  can  they 
draw  nigh  to  God,  or  God  draw  nigh  to  them  ?  Our  Lord 
Jefus  Chrift  faith,  that  ivhere  two  or  three  are  gathered  to- 
gether in  my  name^  I  ivill  be  in  the  viidfi  of  them  ;  but  if 
people  meet  together  in  their  fin  and  wickednefs,  if  they 
have  a  loofe  and  vain  mind,  and  intend  to  go  on  in  wick- 
ednefs and  fin,  if  they  meet,  they  meet  not  in  Chrift's 
name,  but  in  the  devii  s  name,  and  he  is  in  the  midft  of 
them,  and  he  works  and  rules  in  the  hearts  of  the  children- 
of  dif obedience.  So  that  this  hath  been  the  ground  and  rea- 
fon  why  abundance  of  meetings  upon  this  account  have 
been  fruitlefs  as  to  the  benefit  of  their  fouls,  and  the  ex- 
pectations of  people  have  been  fruftrated  as  to  their  falva- 
tion  ;  they  have  not  met  with  that  in  which  the  blefling 
is,  and  to  which  the  promife  is  made.  The  promife  is  not 
made  to  people  that  the  devil  rules;  there  is  no  promife 
to  luch  but  the  promife  of  eternal  wrath  to  be  executed  upon 
them,  with  the  devil  and  his  angels  to  all  eternity;  if  you 
can  make  that  a  promife. 

The  promife  of  life  and  falvation  which  is  recorded  by 
the  prophets  and  apoftles,  it  hath  always  relation  to  the 
{Q(i:di  that  are  in  covenant  with  God.  In  this  the  covenant 
flands,  faith  God  to  Abraham^  Gen.  xvii.  7.  I  will  eflab- 
l:Jh  my  covena7tt  befiveen  me  and  thee,  and  thy  feed  after 
thee  in  their ^  generations,  for  an  everlajiing  cove?ianty  to  be 
a  God  unto  thee,  and  to  thy  feed  after  thee.  The  cove- 
nant is  made  to  Abraham  and  his  feed,  that  is,  with  Chrift 
Jefus  the  Mediator.  It  is  he  that  brings  to  God,  thofe 
that  trufi:  in  him  and  come  to  him,  he  that  cometh  to  him, 
he  ivill  in  no  wife  caft  out  ;  they  that  do  not  come  to 
Chnfr,  are  caft  off  already.     All  men,  by  nature,  are  cad 

a\c^ay 


The  Acceptable  Sacrifice.  jj^ 

a>X'ay  already  ;  if  any  o'f  them  will  be  faved,  it  is  by  com- 
ing to  Chrift,  ivho  is  aole  to  fave,  to  the  uttermofi,  and  to 
make  peace  for  them,  and  of  twain  to  make  one  new  man  ; 
and  to   make  peace  between  God  and  the  loul. 

There  is  a  necelTity  for  all  people,  that  have  any  fenfe 
of  their  natural  ftate  and  condition,  that  according  to'na- 
tm*e  have  no  title  to  the  kingdom  of  God,  to  be  recon- 
ciled to  God.  By  nature  they  cannot  make  a  claim  to 
righteoufnefs  and  life  ;  they  connot  reconcile  themfelves 
to  God  by  all  their  works  ;  faith  the  prophet  Mtcah,  will 
the  Lord  be  pleafed  ivLt/i  a  thoufand  rams,  or  with  ten 
thoufand  rivers  of  oil  .<?  Shall  I  give  my  jirft-born  for  my 
tranfgrelfion,  the  fruit  of  my  body  for  the  fin  of  my  foul  ? 
He  hath  fliewed  thee,  O  man  I  what  is  good  :  And  what 
doth  the  Lord  require  of  thee,  but  to  do  ju/tly,  and  love  tner- 
f  y,  and  walk  humbly  with  thy  God  ?  They  that  will  be 
faved,  muft  lay  hold  of  falvation  in  that  way  and  method 
that  the  Lord  God  of  Heaven  and  Earth  hath  prefcrib- 
cd.  He  hath  prefcribed  a  v/ay  for  every  body  to  be  fav- 
ed ;  he  would  not  have  any  one  to  perilh,  but  that  all 
fhould  come  to  repentance,  and  obtain  everlafting  life.  God 
hath  made  a  way  that  will  ferve  every  body  aUke  y  thou- 
fands  as  well  as  ten  j  and  all  the  world  as  well  as  one 
man.  Now  the  way  that  God  hath  made,  is  turning  out 
of  the  ftate  into  which  they  are  fallen,  and  forfaking  that 
governor  that  rules  in  the  hearts  of  the  children  of  dif- 
obedience,  and  clofing  with  Chrift,  whom  God  hath  ap- 
pointed to  reign  in  every  ones  heart.  People  in  Chrif- 
tendom  will  fay,  they  have  clofed  with  Chrift.  Do  not 
you  hope  to  be  laved  by  Chrift,  on  the  terms  of  the  co- 
venant ?  It  is  not  crying.  Lord,  Lord,  but  doing  the  will 
of  God  'y  the  terms  are,  all  men  mufl  •believe  in  Chrift,  the 
eternal  Son  of  God  ;  and  through  the  power  of  that  faith 
they  have  in  him,  he  comes  to  rule  over  them,  and  they 
become  fubjed:  to  him.  And  if  a  beliver  be  not  fubjed: 
to  Chrift,  he  is  all  one  as  if  he  was  an  unbeliever  ;  cir-  f 
cumcifion,  or  uncircumcifton,  avails  not  any  thing,  but  a  new 
creature  ;   and  faith  which  worketh    by    love. 

The  covenant  doth  not  ftand  in  meer  words  ;  if  I  con- 
form to   fuch  articles,    then    I  am   a  Chriftian  ;   if  I   be- 
lieve 


j4^  The  Accept ABi'E  S4CRITice. 

lieve  all  the  articles  of  the  creed,' then  I  am  a  Chrifljafl, 
and  a  child  of  God.  If  a  man  will  fay,  I  believe,  hij 
fay  fo  is  not  fufHcient.  The  condition  of  the  covenant 
that  God  hath  made,  is,  that  Chrift  (hall  rule  and  havg 
the  government  of  thofe  fouls  that  he  prefents  to  God  : 
How  fhould  it  be  otherwife,'  feeing  he  is  not  to  prefent 
any  to  Qod  that  are  unclean  ?  Chrift  hath  no  cojnniiilir- 
on  to  prefent  any  to  God  in  their  uncleannefs  and  wick-r 
iednefs.  He  that  believeth,  muft  be  cieanfed  and  purified 
by  him  :  If  fo,  then  that  cannot  be  done,  but  by  ruling 
over  them.  If  they  had  the  rule  of  themfelves,  they  wouH 
be  polluted,  and  be  like  water,  whofe  current  is  ftoppej 
with  dirt  and  mud,  not  running  in  its  own  proper  ftream* 
People  will  commit  fin,  when  they  have  the  rule  of  them^ 
{elves ;  but  when  Chrift  prefents  people  to  God,  and  wherj 
they  come  to  be  led  by  him^  they  are  clean! ed  and  pu- 
rified. 

"V(^hen  the  apoftle  defcribes  true  faith,  he  doth  it  by  this 
quality  and  property  of  it,  it  punjies  the  heart.  All  other 
faith  is  hut  the  hope  of  the  hypocrite  ;  bi^t  real  faith  is  the  epe-^ 
ration  of  God^  faith  the  apoftle ;  and  that  faith  worketh  in 
an  unclean  heart  to  the  cleaniing  of  it,  and  in  an  impvire 
heart  to  the  purifying  of  it :  If  the  heart  comes  to  be  puri- 
fied, then  it  muft  needs  follow  that  the  converfatipn  muft 
be  pure  alfo.  No  one  doth  an  ill  work,  or  fpeaks  an 
ill  word,  but  it  is  from  an  evil  heart.  Now  if  the  axe 
come  to  be  laid  to  the  root  cf  the  tree,  and  the  word  of  the 
i^ord  operate  in  the  heart  powerfully,  if  ever  fo  much  evil 
be  in  it,  the  axe  when  laid  to  the  root  of  the  tree  will  cut 
ix  down  ;  the  power  of  God  will  execute  judgment  upon 
every  thing  that  is  contrary  to  him ;  Chrift  is  holy,  harm^ 
Icfs,  and  undejiled,  a^d  fepar are  from  ftn  and  fmners  y  and 
though  he  extend  his  Hfe  and  virtue  to  the  life  and  foul  of 
the  raoft  wicked  man  in  the  world,  it  never  joins  with 
their  uneleannefs,  but  keeps  immaculate  and  undefiled  in 
the  heart  of  the  worft  of  men. 

Now  this  immaculate  power  that  comes  from  Chrift,  \t 
will  purify  the  hearts  of  men,  and  prcierve  them  from  evil 
thoughts,  words  and  a^lions.  This  is  the  manifeftation  of 
the  one  Mediator  that  they  muft-  be  gov^j-ned  by,  eife  they 

cannot 


The  4ccEPrABtE  Sm^niTict.  g^x 

fannot  be  prefentecl  fpotlefs  to  God  the  Father.  There  is 
a  necefllty  of  corning  to  a  Saviour  otherwi£c  tliaji  by 
words  aad.  profeilion ;  we  muft  come  to  him  and  bcartily 
foin  with  huii  ?  we  have  all  joined  with  the  devil,  he  hath 
fuggefted,  moved,  and  inftigated,  and  people  have  followed 
his  infligations  and  motions  ;  there  is  no  man  but  is  fen- 
fiblc  of  a  devilifh  motion,  why  not  then  of  a  divin-e  mo- 
tion ?  Though  now  it  is  become  a  bugbear  to  fay,  we  are 
xnoved  by  the  Spirit  of  Chrift^  why  not  by  that  Spirit,  as 
well  as  by  the  fpirit  of  the  wicked  one  ?  No  man  doubts 
but  that  there  are  motions  of  the  devil  which  they  are  fen- 
fibk  of,  that  fometimes  they  have  joined  with  him,  aiid 
fometimes  they  withftand  him,  "^'hat  is  the  reafon  that 
men  fhould  join  with  evil  motions  ?  There  is  no  juft  rea- 
fon for  it.  The  reafon  why  you  and  I  withftand  the 
motions  of  the  d^vil,  is  becaufe  we  find  another  motion 
conveyed  into  our  hearts  by  the  Spirit  of  God  ;  if  a  man 
hath  one  motion  to  commit  uncleannefs,  he  hath  another 
motion  to  keep  himfelf  pure ;  if  he  hath  a  motion  to  fpeak 
a  lie,  he  hath  another  motion  to  fpeak  truth;  there  are 
two  movers  at  the  fame  time,  in  the  fame  heart,  which  ihali 
WQ  join  with?  Shall  I  join  with  the  devil's  motion?  If 
I  find  any  thing  of  the  love  of  God  in  my  heart,  it  will 
conflrain  me  to  mind  the  good  motion,  and  make  me  with- 
ftand the  evil  motion  ;  fo  that  the  moving  of  the  Spirit 
of  God  is  not   fuch  a  wonder. 

There  are  none  who  have  not  had  bad  motions  in  them, 
and  they  have  alfo  morions  of  the  Spirit  of  truth ;  they 
have  met  with^"  evil  motions,  and  they  have  admired  them 
too  much,  then  it  is  time  to  repent  ;  if  there  be  a  diftinc- 
tion  between  a  motion  of  the  Spirit  of  truth,  and  a  mo^ 
tion  of  the  fpirit  of  error,  then  I  may  boldly  fay,  it  is  our 
duty  to  join  with  the  Spirit  of  truth,  and  not  with  the 
fpirit  of  error;  if  there  be  a  defire  in  us  to  be  faved  fro?}^ 
the  wrath  to  come,  then  the  way  to  be  faved  from  God's 
wrath  is  to  be  faved  from  the  caufe  of  it;  take  away  the 
caufe  and  the  efFeci:  ceafeth.  The  caufe  of  God's  wrath 
being-  kindled  againft  m.an  is  fin,  fpr  God  had  no  wrath 
^gainfi:  man  when  he  firft  made  him;  for  he  made  him 
after  his  ov/n  image,  and  gave  him  powa'  to  continue  ia 


J42  The  Acceptable  Sacrifice^ 

that  holinefs  and  righteoufnefs,  wherein  he  created  him  y- 
but  he  fell,  and  was  caft  out  of  paradife,  and  an  angel  was 
fent  with  a  flaming  flword  that  turned  every  ivay,  to  keep 
the  way  of  the  tree  of  life.  Thus  man  fell  under  the  wrath 
of  God  by  his  fin ;  but  how  fhall  I  have  the  wrath  of 
God  allayed  ?  By  breaking  off  from  fin,  and  returning 
to  God  again. 

This  looks  like  a  covenant  of  works,  fay  fome ',  do  you 
fay  I  muft  break  off  from  fin,  and  fo  efcape  the  wrath  of 
God? 

Yes,  I  do;  but  no  mortal  man  can  break  off  from  fin 
but  by  joining  with  the  Mediator,  he  is  the  author  of  eter- 
nal fahation,  he  worketh  in  ns  to  ivill  and  to  do,  and  en- 
ahleth  us  to  work  mit  our  own  fahation ;  it  was  fm  that 
drove  man  out  of  paradife,  and  brought  upon  him  the 
wrath  of  God.  Sin  is  the  devil's  work;  now  that  Chrift 
might  be  a  Saviour  to  us,  he  will  deftroy  the  devil's  work  ; 
for  this  purpofe,  faith  the  apoftle,  the  Son  of  God  was  ma- 
nifefled  that  he  might  deftroy  the  works  of  the  devil.  Now 
the  devil  was  not  the  defi;rud:ion  of  man  limply  in  him- 
it\£^  but  by  tempting  him  to  fin,  which  is  the  devil's  work  ; 
and  Chrift  ivas  matiLfejled,  to  deftroy  the  devil's  work ; 
that  propcnfity  to  fin  that  is  in  the  nature  of  man,  which 
makes  him  rebel  againft  the  mind  and  will  of  God.  Chrift 
the  eternal  Son  of  God  became  man  ;  he  took  the  nature 
of  man,  that  he  miight  bring  man  again  to  his  primitive 
ftate,  wherein  he  was  created  after  the  image  of  God. 

Now  how  doth  the  devil  perform  his  works  ?  doth  he  do 
his  works  coercively  ?  No,  he  ufeth  no  irrefiftible  force. 
But  doth  Chrift  the  Mediator  work  coercively,  with  an 
irrefiftible  power  and  force,  to  bring  a  man  again  to  God  ? 
No,  no  more  than  the  devil  did  to  beguile  man  from  God. 
Man  might  have  ftood  and  continued  in  his  ftate  of  in- 
nocency  if  he  would  ;  he  might  join  with  evil,  and  yield 
to  the  temptation  of  the  devil,  if  he  had  a  mind  ;  he  knew 
if  he  gave  over  his  mind  to  evil,  he  ftiould  be  ruined  ; 
and  it  proved  fo.  Man  was  refolved  to  try  what  it  was 
to  yield  to  the  devil,  and  obey  him.  He  told  them  that  if 
they  did  eat  of  the  forbidden  fruit  they  ftiould  be  as  Gods, 
but  they  became  more  like  the  devil ;  this  they  got  by  be- 
ing 


The  Acceptable  Sacrifice.  j4j 

ing  obedient  unto  him,  not  that  the  devil  laid  an  irreliftiblc 
force  upon  them,  you  fhali  eat  of  the  fruit  of  this  tree  ; 
but  there  was  only  a  prefentation  of  it  to  them,  and  with 
that  he  prevailed,  and  fo  came  to  the  dcftruclion  of  mankind. 
Chrift  the  Mediator,  in  order  that  he  may  prefent  us  to 
God,  comes  himfelf  and  prefents  his  commands  to  us, 
and  his  command  is,  that  we  muft  break  off  from  that  fer- 
vitude  and  fubjedion  that  the  devil  hath  brought  man  into, 
and  there  muft  be  a  fubjedion  unto  Chrift  ;  we  muft  be- 
lieve in  Chrift,  and  hearken  to  the  word  of  God,  and  break 
off  from  fin  ;  but  where  is  the  power  <  If  God  would 
have  me  holy,  let  him  make  me  holy  ;  if  he  would  have 
me  pure,  let  him  make  me  fo,  and  give  me  ability  to  do 
that  which  of  myfelf  I  cannot  do  j  when  it  pleafeth  God 
to  give  me  grace  and  captivate  my  will,  1  Ihall  become 
a  good  Chriftian.  Now  here  is  a  great  miftake,  that  people 
fhould  think  they  muft  wait  for  an  irrefiftible  power  to 
bring  them  back  to  God  j  there  is  a  prefentation  of  love 
and  mercy,  and  earneft  invitations,  and  the  long-fufFering 
and  patience  and  goodnefs  of  God's  long  waiting  upon 
linners.  God,  iv/io  cotujnanded  light  to  fliine  out  of  \dark- 
7iefs,  hath  ftiined  into  our  hearts,  to  give  the  light  of  the 
k'/iowledge  of  the  glory  of  God  in  the  face  of  Jefus  Chrift^ 
%  Cor,  iv.  6.  What  fhall  I  do  with  the  light  that  fhines 
into  my  heart  ?  I  will  fhut  mine  eyes  againft  it  j  I  love 
darknefs  rather  than  light,  and  evil  more  than  good ;  this 
light  will  lead  me  to  holinefs  and  righteoufnefs,  I  will 
quarrel  with  it,  it  comes  to  bereave  me.  of  my  comforts 
in  this  world,  of  my  merry  companions,  and  of  all  my  bra- 
very, I  will  not  hearken  to  it.  Alas  !  for  thefe;  this  is 
the  condemnation^  that  light  is  come  into  the  world,  and 
men  love  darknefs  rather  than  light^  becaufe  their  deeds 
are  evil,  faith  our  Saviour.  If  I  had  not  co?ne  and  fpoken 
to  them,  they  had  no  fin ^  but  now  they  have  no  cloak  for 
their  fin. 

Here  is  the  gofpel  preached  by  Chrift  himfelf;  here  is 
the  prefentation  of  an  opportunity  for  every  man  and  wo- 
man to  return  again  ',  but  I  muft  be  in  the  way  of  return- 
ing, that  is,  by  joining  with  that  which  prefents  to  me 
holinefs,  righteoufnefs,  chaftity  and  humiiity,  that  prefents 

and 


j4^  The  Accept AntE  Sacriftce. 

and  ofFens  to  the  foul  all  the  virtues  and  graces  that  ^d 
in  Chrifl:^  and  fhews  it  the'  light  and  grace  that  comes 
from  Chrift.  Now  this  light-  and  grace  inewing  itfelf  to 
my  foul)-  I  have  a  view  of.  Haft  thou  a  view  6£  it  ?  H^ 
thou  fsen  purity,  humility,  fobriety,  meeknefs,  and-  felf- 
denialy  and  an  heavenly  frame  of  fpirit  in  thyfelf  or  foilie- 
body  elfe  ?  How  doft  thou  like  it  ?  I  like  it  not  at  all  ;- 
L  love  to  have  bdnour  and  dignity,  power  and  dominion, 
and  my  elbow-room  in  the  world  ;  I-  love  not  this  meek^ 
nefs,  humility  and  ftri(5^nefs  of  life,  that  a  man  muft  have 
a  care  what  he  fpeaks,  and  fet  a  watch  upoii  his  lips^  and 
upon  his  heart,-  tongue,  and  hands,  I  do  not  like  tlli's  kind! 
of  life. 

If  thou  doft  not  like  a  good  life,  fomebody  will  like  it,- 
cttid  live  in  it  ;  and  notwithftanding  all  thy  vapouring,  thy* 
hating,  and  defpifing  it,  when  people  come  to  live  this  kind? 
of  if^,  tliey  will  outlive  thee  ;  thy  pro^d  life,-  they  reign^ 
ing  life,  and  thy  having  elbow-room  in  the  world,  will 
at  laft  come  to  be  limited  j  the  hand  of  God  is  againlB 
it,  and:  iti  will  bring  dowri  t-h?e  pride  of  man.  When  tliotf 
comeft  to  lie  upon  thy  dying  pillow,  cxpecling  every  rho- 
ment  to  expire,  and  breathe  thy  laft,  then  thou  wilt  fay,- 
O  that  I  had  been  more  ferioUs,  aiid  lived  more  like  <t 
Chriftian  ;  lived  a  godly  life,  and  given  up  my  heart' to 
God,  and  been  more  watchful  over  my  thoughts,  words- 
and  adiions  !  There  is  fuch  a  friend  of  mine,  that  hath' 
lived  better  than  I;  if  I  had-  lived  fuch  a  lif<^  as  he  hatf^ 
lived,  I  (hould  have  had  more  comfort  ;  and  they  that 
are  defpifers  of  the  godly,  tho'  they  do  not  like  fuch  a 
life  now,  they  will  like  it  then. 

Friends,  you  that  are  lovers  of  your  fouls,  and  meet  to-' 
gether  that  you  may  become  better,  and  have  expedation"^ 
and  hope,  that  you  ihail  receive  comfort  and  benefit  by 
your  meeting  together,  I  tell  you,  as  a  fervant-  of  God, 
and  a  lover  of  yours,  it  is  but  a  little  while,  and  yoi* 
will  Wifh  that  you  had  chofen  the  moft  holy,  harmlefs, 
innocent  life,  that  ever  you  faw  yourfelves,  or  heard  of 
from  any  body  elfe  ;  and  you  will  wifh  that  you  had  been 
more  watchful  over  your  thoughts,  words  and  adions. 
There  is  a-  day,  a  day  approaching,    when   we  muft  give 

an 


The  Acceptable   Sacrifice,  ^45* 

an   account  for  every  thing  that  we  have   done,    vchether 

food  or  evil ;  you  mufl:  give  an  account  for  your  curfed 
ebauchery  ',  for  your  fwearing,  lying,  and  inordinate  paf- 
lions  ;  you  muft  give  an  account  far  every  vain  thought, 
and  every  idle  word. 

If  this  will  certainly  come  to  pafs,  how  fliall  I  prevent 
thefe  idle  words  and  evil  adions  ?  Wliereivith  [iiall  a  yciwg 
man  ckanfe  his  ^vay,  faith  the  Pfalmift  ?  By  taking  heed 
thereto y  according  to  thy  worcL  I  am  not  as  thole  that  fay 
lo  here  and  lo  there  :  I  do  not  fay,  you  muft  come  and 
learn  truth  of  m.e,  but  if  you  find  it,  you  muft  find  it 
in  yourfelves  :  "^^hat  if  I  live  in  the  truth  ?  That  will 
not  ferve  thee  ',  and  if  I  be  a  holy  man,  that  will  not 
fandify  thee  ;  thou  muft  hearken  to  truth's  fpeaking  ia 
thyfelf  j  thou  mayeft  hear  it  fpeaking  in  thine  own  heart; 
you  may  hear  it  call  you  to  righteoufnefs  and  hoHnefs  ; 
and  if  you  hear  it,  you  may  do  it  too,  if  you  pleaie  j 
for  there  is  a  power  that  goes  along  with  it. 

I  know  enough,  thou  Wilt  fay,  but  I  cannot  do  what 
I  know;  I  have  not  power.  'W'^'hat  ails  thee  that  thou  haft 
not  power  ?  If  I  had  power,  then  would  I  abftain  fi-om 
ail  fin,  and  break  off  from  my  evil  ways ',  but  the  devil 
throws  this  objed  and  the  other  objed  in  my  way,  and  by 
his  temptations  he  doth  enfnare  me,  I  have  not  power  to 
refift  :  Would  you  have  me  do  more  than  I  can  do  ?  and 
as  long  as  I  have  not  power  I  am  to  be  excufed. 

Now  here  is  a  device  of  the  devil  to  keep  people  in  his 
net  ftill.  If  men  would  be  true  to  themfelves,  they  would 
not  be  long  without  power :  If  thou  art  convinced  of  the 
evil  of  thy  ways,  and  that  it  is  thy  duty  to  break  off 
from  fm,  there  is  a  power  offered  to  thee,  that,  if  thou 
joineft  with,  thou  mayeft  overcome  all  temptations,  and  for- 
fake  thy  fin  :  I  would  have  you  all  prove,  and  fearch,  and 
fee  whether  I  fpeak  truth  or  no  ;  I  am  perfuaded  there  is 
not  a  man  or  woman  here  but  they  have  fometime  ab- 
ftained  from  an  evil  work,  which  they  v/ere  tempted  to. 
How  were  you  reftrained  ;  becaufe  you  knew  it  was  aa 
evil  work,  you  durft  not  do  it ;  the  devil  had  not  a  coer- 
cive pov/er  to  force  you  to  do  it ;  I  knew  it  was  an  evil 
thing,  and  I  joined  with  that  in  my  mind  which  diffuaded 

X  X  me 


j4^  The  Acceptable  Sackitice. 

me  from  It  ;  and  I  prayed  to  God  to  give  me  po\vef  to 
abftain  from  it.  The  devil  tem^pted  thee  on  frill,  who 
helped  thee  againfl  the  temptation  <  God  retrained  thee  by 
his  grace.  Will  not  he  be  a  prefent  help  unto  thee  ?  he 
is  the  fame  yejlerday^  to-day^  and  forever  ;  depend  upon 
him  ftill,  and  he  will  be  always  ready  to  help  thee,  and 
fiipport  thee,  and  Rrengthen  thee,  and  thou  fhalt  be  kept 
from  fin  in  an  hour  of  temptation  :  Gonfider  that  all 
power  in  Heaven  and  Earth  is  given  to  Ghrift,  and  if  he 
be  able  to  keep  thee  rhou  fhalt  not  fall  into  it  ?  thofe  that 
come  rmto  tue^  faith  Ghrift,  7ione  Jhall  pluck  them  cut  of 
my  /lafidsy  a?:d  my  Father  is  greater  than  all.  If  thou 
comeft  unto  Chrift,  he  will  in  no  wife  caft  thee  out^  and  if 
thou  depend  upon  him,  he  will  preierve  thee,  and  none 
piall  he  able  to  fluck  thee  out  of  his  hand.  If  thou  join 
with  the  truth,  and  with  that  which  is  holy,  thou  (halt 
have  urength  and  ability  to  withftand  tem^ptation  and  over- 
come it;  and  (I  may  fpeak  with  reverence)  Ghrift  hath 
bound  hirnielf  to  thofe  that  truft  in  iiim  ;  thofe  that  keep 
the  word  of  w.y  patience^  I  null  keep  them  in  the  hour  of 
temptation.  If  I  keep  waiting  upon  his  power,  that  is 
ready  to  help  me,  and  have  a  miind  to  be  purified  and 
fandified,  and  to  have  righteoufnefs  brought  into  my  foul, 
and  have  mine  eyes  unto  God,  and  mv  expectations  from 
him,  he  will  work  in  ine  to  will  and  to  do  of  his  good 
pleufure. 

No\Y/  here  people  have  a  fixed  foundation  for  their  faith  ; 
but  there  is  no  working  at  this  rate  without  bearing  a 
daily  crofs.  There  are  a  great  many  can  receive  the  truth 
in  words,  and  receive  dodinnes,  and  tenets,  and  that  with 
dehght  ;  but  there  is  no  prac:tifing  holinefs  and  righteouf- 
nels  without  a  daily  crofs  and  i elf-denial.  There  are  a  great 
many  who  have  come  to  truth,  as  far  as  it  ftands  in  words, 
but  when  it  comes  to  fomething  that  they  muft  do,  to 
fpeak  the  truth,  and  live  in  the  truth,  they  meet  with  fo 
much  of  the  temptation  of  the  devil,  fo  much  luft  and 
corruption,  and  ungodlinefs  in  themfelves ;  they  meet  with 
fuch  evil  things  that  their  fouls  join  with  and  yield  to, 
that  thev  cannot  go  on  in  the  ways  of  holinefs,  unlefs 
tliey  look  up  to  Jefus,  and  have  an  eye  to  their  Saviour, 

and 


The  Acceptable  Sacrifice.  ^4'/ 

and  take  up  his  crofs  and  follow  him.  Vhatfoever  re- 
proaches, fiifFerings,  and  perfecutions  they  endure,  they 
muft  have  a  godly  refolution  to  follow  the  Lord  Chrift, 
and  fay,  I  will  obey  his  commands,  he  (hall  have  the  rule 
and  government  of  my  life,  and  be  the  guide  of  my  way  ; 
whatfoever  (lands  in  m.y  way,  I  will  take  up  my  crofs 
and  deny  myfelf  j  without  this  there  is  no  good  Chrif- 
tianity  in  the  world. 

There  are  a  great  many  that  feem  to  be  religious  and 
are  profcflbrs  of  the  truth  :  We  all  know  there  are  many 
profelTors  of  the  truth  in  notion,  and  with  fome  zeal  will 
talk  of  it  j  but  they  do  not  know  how  to  live  and  walk  in 
the  truth,  they  do  not  live  uprightly  and  honeftly  in  it  ; 
they  do  not  keep  their  words  i  they  do  not  live  juftly 
and  honeftly  with  all  men,  nor  do  unto  others  as  they  would 
have  others  do  to  them  :  They  can  tell  how  to  fpeak  and 
ad  ;  then  why  do  they  not  do  it  ?  They  have  got  a  no- 
tion that  they  are  above  the  crofs  of  Chrift,  and  felf- 
denial  is  far  below  them.  People  will  not  live  in  the 
truth. 

This  is  wanting  in  the  whole  world  :  If  we  look  around 
we  (hall  find  a  great  many  are  illuminated  -,  there  is  abundance 
of  knowledge  and  underftanding  among  profedors,  abun- 
dance of  learning,  and  great  numbers  of  learned  men  :  What 
is  the  reafon  that  oaths,  and  curfes,  and  all  manner  of 
wickedneis  run  down  the  ftreets  like  a  river  ;  there  is  pride, 
and  wrath,  and  envy,  and  revenge,  and  violence  to  be 
found  among  us,  as  if  it  would  draw  down  vengeance  up- 
on us.  They  have  heard  preached  in  pulpits  much  o£ 
holinefs,  humility,  patience  and  meeknefs,  that  a  meek  and 
quiet  fptrit  is  an  ornament  of  great  price  :  Men  have  heard 
much  preaching  againft  pride,  prophanenefs,  and  drunk- 
ennefs,  and  uncleannefs,  but  they  have  heard  it  like  a  tale 
that  is  told^  not  much  concerned  about  it,  and  have  giv- 
en little  credit  or  regard  to  what  they  have  heard  of  thefe 
things.  Why  are  people  fo  wicked  ?  The  reafon  at  laft 
refults  in  this,  men  are  lovers  of  fleafures  more  than  lovers 
of  God,  they  are  not  the  fervants  of  Chrift,  but  ferve  di^ 
vers  lufls,  and  pleafures,  and  are  led  captive  by  the  devil, 
at  his  ivill  ;  and  fo  they  go  on  in  iniquity.     No  laws  can 

reftraia 


^4^  The  Acceptable  Sacrifice. 

retrain  and  curb  them,  \rhen  the  law  of  Chrifl  is  not 
written  in  their  hearts  ;  but  when  men  come  to  fee  a  ne- 
ccffity  of  felf-denial  and  taking  up  the  crofs,  this  will  pro- 
duce a  reformation. 

This  is  what  I  labour  for,  and  all  good  men  and  women 
will  do  it  :  It  is  timic  to  try  for  reformation.  Vain 
fafliions,  and  garbs,  and  pride  have  been  cried  up,  why 
ihould  not  we  cry  for  reformation  before  the  wrath  of  a 
provoked  God  is  kindled  againft  us,  and  his  vengeance 
poured  down  upon  the  nation  ?  We  rnuft  reform  our  lives. 
How  iliall  men  reform,  you  will  uiy  ?  By  getting  the  law 
of  God  wii/un  their  hearts,  that  is  pure,  and  holy,  and 
heavenly,  that  will  be  as  a  light  to  incus  feet ^  a?id  a  lan- 
thoTR  to  their  paths  :  Now  till  people  come  to  this  they 
will  go  on  in  fm  and  iniquity,  till  they  be  fwept  away 
Y/ith  fonie  overflowing  and  dreadful  judgment. 

So  that,  my  friends,  in  the  fear  of  God,  and  out  of 
love  to  you,  I  feek  that  you  may  be  brought  to  God, 
through  Chrsil:  y  that  you  may  live  in  the  love  and  fear 
of  the  Lord,  and,  when  you  come  to  die,  you  may  have 
reft  and  peace  for  your  fouls.  There  is  no  reft  for  thofe 
that  are  evil-doers  ',  there  is  no  peace,  faith  my  God,  to 
the  voicked.  The  ungodly  cry,  peace^  peace,  and  talk  of 
peace,  but  there  is  no  peace  for  them,  but  they  Ihall  have 
for  their  portion  tribulation,  and  wrath,  and  anguifh;  this 
fhall  certainly  come  upon  every  one  that  doth  evil.  It 
is  no  matter  what  religion  you  are  of,  if  you  do  not 
obey  the  truth,   but  live  in  unrighteoufnefs. 

Now,  friends,  my  exhortation  to  you  all  is,  that  you 
will  return  to  the  truth  in  your  own  hearts,  and  do  it 
while  you  have  time.  I  am  not  perfuading  people  to  love 
my. opinion,  but  to  love  God's  truth  in  their  own  hearts, 
to  love  it  and  obey  it,  and  you  cannot  do  this  unlefs  you 
lelolve  to  take  up  a  daily  crofs,  and  be  followers  of  Chrift, 
who  is  gone  before  to  prepare  a  place  for  them  that  are 
his  true  difciples  ;  and  then  he  v/ill  prefent  them  to  God, 
as  holy,  harmlcfs,  and  nndefiledy  for  thefc  are  heirs  of  that 
cverlafting  kingdom,  which  God  hath  prepared  for  them  that 
love  him, 

SERMON 


SERMON     XXX. 

Christ  the  Way  to  Eternal   Life. 

Preached  at  Grace-Church-Struet,  May  6",   x6SS. 


"1  H  E  deflre  of  all  nations  is  come ;  that  which  all 
people  defire  in  their  own  way,  is  come  in  God's 
way  J  for  all  nations  and  all  people  on  the  earth 
defire  eternal  life ;  they  would  all  be  happy  in  the  other 
world,  and  in  order  thereunto,  they  have  fitted  themfelves 
with  divers  ways  and  methods,  in  which  they  have  pro- 
po fed  to  themfelves  the  enjoymient  of  eternal  Hfe  j  but  by 
reafon  of  the  darknefs  that  is  in  them,  they  have  erred,  in 
their  ways,  they  have  been  Scattered,  they  have  been  driven 
and  toffed  hither  and  thither,  and  can  never  agree  about 
the  way   that   leads  to  eternal  life. 

This  comes  by  reafon  of  the  great  darknefs  that  is  over 
the  fons  and  daughters  of  men  in  general,  in  which  they 
have  loft  their  way,  and  are  endeavouring  to  find  it  again  : 
"But  the  fubtle  adverfary  led  them  out  of  the  way,  and  as 
long  as  he  leads  and  they  follow,  they  will  never  find  the 
right  way  :  The  great  calamity  that  is  come  upon  the  world 
in  this  refped,  is  very  greatly  to  be  lamented  j  for  when 
the  eye  of  the  mind  is  opened,  to  behold  the  univerfal 
ftate  of  mankind,  and  to  fee  how  they  are  fcattered  hi- 
ther and  thither,  and  often  left  in  confufion,  by  the  craft 
and  delufion  of  the  wicked  one,  and  that  none  of  the 
ways  that  they  have  found,  are  like  to  bring  them  to  the 
propofed  end,  becaufe  they  are  defiled,  becaufe  they  are 
unholy  '■,  this  hath  bowed  down  the  fpirit  of  the  Lord's 
fcrvants  many  times,  and  a  great  cry  hath  arifen  in  the 
hearts  of  thofe  that  have  feen  the  fruition  and  enjoyment 
of  life  eternal  ;  O,  that  the  fons  of  men  might  hear  !  and 
O  that  they  might  confider  their  ways  before  thev  come 
to  their  latter  end  !  for  mark  friends,  this  you  may  take 
for  a  certain  dodrine,  and  a  fure  rule  in  judgment,  con- 
cerning all  the  ways  that  the  fons  and  daughters  of  men 
Walk  in  3   if  they  be  unholy ^   they  v^ill  be  jmprofitable  ;   the 

way 


j^o  Christ  the  Way  to  Eternal  Life. 

way  of  the  Lord  was,  and  is,  and  ever  will  be  the  way 
of  holinefs,  and  the  people  that  walk  therein,  they  were, 
and  are,  and  they  will  always  be  a  holy  people  ;  now  the 
fons  and  daughters  of  men  have  not  gone  to  meafare  their 
way  by  this  rule,  but  the  greatefl:  endeavours  that  ever  have 
been  in  the  world,  from  the  beginning  (the  greatefl:  en- 
deavours that  men  did  undertake)  were  to  fee  hov/  near 
they  could  approve  their  dodrine  and  practice  with  the 
fcriptures  of  truth,  and  that  hath  been  the  bone  of  con- 
tention, that  they  have  ftumbled  about  from  one  generation 
to  another,  one  crying  my  way  is  right  ;  and  here  they 
have  been  contending,  disputing,  and  jangling  and  deba- 
ting one  with  another,  and  could  never  agree,  and  could 
never  come  to  that  underfl:anding,  which  is  given  by  the 
Holy  Spirit,  that  moved  holy  men  to  write  the  Holy 
Scriptures  of  truth  ;  if  they  had,  it  is  manifefl:  they  would 
have  agreed,  for  this  one  fpirit  mufl;  agree  with  itfelf, 
and  will  give  judgment  according  to  its  own  righteous 
judgment :  Men  being  alienated  from  the  life  of  God,  by 
evil  works,  and  by  the  fuggefl:ions  of  fatan,  they  have  not 
known  the  way  of  peace,  and  have  not  come  to  that 
which  is  the  dcfire  of  all  nations,  as  now  in  the  fulnefs 
of  time,  the  Lord  God  eternal,  who  created  the  Heavens 
and  the  Earth,  the  fea  and  the  fountains  of  water,  he  hath 
looked  down  and  beheld  the  miferable  calamitous  fl:ate  of 
the  fons  and  daughters  of  men,  and  he  hath  feen  how 
they  have  been  fcattered  and  driven  to  and  fro  by  idle  Ihep- 
herds,  and  how  every  one  hath  indulged  himfelt  in  his 
own  way,  though  unholy  and  impure ;  and  it  is  becaufe 
of  the  darknefs  of  the  night  of  ignorance  that  hath  been 
over  the  people ;  and  therefore  in  his  infinite  love  and 
mercy,  he  is  rifen,  and  hath  brought  forth  his  light  and 
his  truth,  that  the  nations  mig]  t  be  enlightened,  that  they 
might  come  and  fee  with  a  divine  eye  that  the  truth  is 
but  one,  and  the  way  but  one,  and  all  that  do  really  defire 
to  be  inheritors  of  eternal  Hfe,  muft  come  to  walk  in  that 
way.  So  that  people  are  never  brought  back  again  out  of 
that  way  wherein  they  have  been  fcattered  and  driven 
about,  till  they  come  to  fee  the  way  they  pradife  to  bring 
forth  iniquity  j   they    fee    there  is   no   light  to  be  had  in 

them^ 


Christ  the  Way  to  Eternal  Lite*  j^i 
^em,  they  fee  the  anger  of  God  kindled,  and  the  indig- 
nation of  God  poured  out  by  reafon  of  fin  and  unholinefs. 

Now  when  they  come  to  be  convinced  by  the  light  of 
Chrift  Jefus  of  their  diiobedience,  then  they  come  to  feel 
and  find  a  principle,  a  (ecd  and  root  that  gives  them  a  law 
which  they  fhouid  obey,  and  hear  the  right  law-giver, 
and  have  refped  unto  him  :  Here  is  the  revelation  of 
Chrift  Jefus  by  his  Spirit,  and  this  extends  itfelf  in  its 
operation  and  working  to  the  fons  of  men,  to  them  that 
are  afar  off,  as  well  as  to  thofe  that  are  nigh  ;  therefore 
our  continual  exhortation,  from  time  to  time,  according 
as  the  fpirit  hath  given  us  utterance,  is  not  fo  much  to 
make  profellion  of  this  and  the  other  dodrine  of  Chrilti- 
anity,  as  to  perfuade  all  men  every  where,  that  they  be- 
lieve in  the  light,  and  hearken  to  the  voice  of  the  light 
in  their  own  confciences,  that  they  hearken  to  that  which 
is  purely  of  God  in  themfelves,  as  we  know,  whofoever 
comes  to  love  the  light  of  Chrift  Jefus,  wherewith  they  are 
enlightened,  it  would  difcover  dodrine  to  them,  and  make 
known  faith  and  pradice  too  ;  it  will  lead  them  in  the  way 
everlafting,  it  will  open  their  underftanding  far  above  all 
preaching  this  and   the  other  doctrine  and   tenet. 

What  fignifies  it  to  ihew  colours  to  the  blind,  or  to 
fpeak  words  to  the  dead  ;  till  men  come  to  have  their 
fenfes  opened,  that  they  may  difcern  things  belonging  to 
the  fpirit  of  truth,  the  carnal  man  cannot  underftand  the 
things  of  the  gospel  of  Chrift,  the  carnal  man  is  not  fub- 
jed  to  the  law  of  God,  neither  indeed  can  be  ;  there  muft 
be  fomething  done  in  the  foul,  to  bring  it  out  of  its  car- 
nality, and  bring  it  to  fomething  that  is  fpiritual,  before 
it  is  capable  of  underftanding  the  things  of  the  fpirit  : 
Therefore  when  our  minds  can  witnefs  what  we  came  hither 
for,  when  v/e  meet  to  ferve  and  worftiip  God,  we  ftiall 
have  a  hope  to  receive  fome  illumination,  fome  refreihment, 
fome  comfort,  or  fome  knowledge  of  things  divine ;  it  is 
in  vain  to  attend  religious  dodrines  with  an  irreligious  mind. 
It  is  my  judgment  of  charity,  that  every  one  that  comes 
hither,  hath  fome  expedation  of  illumination  in  their  un- 
derftandings,  fome  gift,  or  fome  inftrudion  ;  this  they  may 
receive  from  the  God  of  Heaven,  by  the  miniftry  of  thofe 

whQ 


j5'2  Christ  the  Way  to  Etehmal  Life* 

who  muft  be  the  mouth  of  God,  to  fpeak  to  them  in  hi^ 
name  :  When  people  are  thus  prepared,  and  their  minds, 
fixed  to  hear  the  truth  ;  if  they  do  not  find  it  in  them- 
felves,  if  they  come  not  to  a  fenfe  of  the  word  of  Hfe  in 
their  own  hearts,  their  hearing  cannot  give  them  life.  Wc 
are  commending  ourfelves  to  every  man's  cohfcience  j  let 
vour  minds  be  turned  inward,  fearch  and  confider,  is  there 
a  iii^it  that  enlightens  every  m.an  that  comes  into  the  world  ? 
Is  tliere  a  defire  of  eternal  life  manifefted  in  me  ?  Is  there, 
that  in  me  that  puts  m.e  upon  obedience  to  God,  to  mend 
my  life  and  converfation,  that  I  might  be  recommended 
to  God  ?  Is  there  fomething  in  me  that  checks  me  when 
I  fpeak  amifs,  and  do  amifs  ?  I  do  appeal  to  the  witnefs 
of  God  in  you  ;  if  that  be  fo,  then  beheve  me  for  the 
word's  fake,   the  teftimony  of  God  in  your  hearts. 

Let  us  next  confider,  whether  we  had'beft  agree  on  this 
conclufion,  that  God  hath  enlightened  us,  and  whether  we 
had  not  beft  obey  that  light ;  this  is  the  beft  way,  let  us 
put  the  Gueftion,  and  wait  for  an  anfwer  from  ourfelves. 
There  is  much  indeed  to  be  faid  on  the  other  fide  :  If 
I  fliould  hear  and  obey  that  by  which  I  am  enlightened, 
if  I  fhould  hearken  to  the  reproof  of  my  own  confcience, 
'I  fhould  lofe  a  great  deal  of  the  pleafure  and  of  the  com- 
fort of  the  world,  I  Ihould  lofe  a  great  deal  of  the  profit 
which  I  gain  in  my  trade  and  calling,  and  of  the  delight 
and  pleafure  I  have  with  my  neighbour. 

This  is  not  to  be  denied  ;  I  would  have  things  put  in 
the  balance  ;  I  grant  you  will  lofe  fome  pleafure,  and  un- 
godly eain,  and  the  friendfhip  of  the  world  ',  but  pray 
confider,  and  let  us  go  through  the  account  :  If  thou 
obeyeft   this   light   of  Chrift  Jefus,    this   is   God's  way  of 


gain  the  whole  world,  and  lofe  thy  own  foul,  what  will 
it  profit  thee  ?  Thou  fnouldeft  confider,  why  I  am  en- 
lightened ;  how  comes  it  to  pafs  that  my  nature  is  evil, 
and  I  am  fallen  from  my  primitive  fi:ate,  from  the  know- 
ledge of  God,  and  from  the  enjoyment  of  his  prefence, 
and  communion  with  him  ?  How  comes  God  to  take  no- 
tice 


Christ  the  Way  to  Eternal  Life.         j^^ 

tice  of  me,  and  to  enlighten  me  and  kindle  in  me  a  de- 
lire  of  returing  to  him  ?  why  fhould  he  'do  this  for  me  ? 
Thou  wilt  never  find  a  reafon  in  thvfelf  of  this  extraor- 
dinary kindnefs,  of  this  fingular  mercy  of  God  to  thee  ; 
it  is  becaufe  his  mercy  moved  him,  and  it  was  his  compaf- 
iion  that  ftirred  him  up  :  He  hath  fent  his  Son  Jcfus  Chrifl: 
into  the  world,  that  men  might  have  light  in  and  through 
him,  and  have  it  abundantly.  The  mercy  of  God  is  a 
fountain  from  whence  all  this  fiows  to  us  ;  if  this  prevail 
not  upon  thee,  no  argument  will  :  \C^hat,  was  it  meer  mer- 
cy, meer  grace,  that  God  was  not  willing  to  fte  me  pe- 
ri(h,  and  run  headlong  to  defl:ru(5lion  ?  He  was  loath  to 
execute  his  wrath  upon  me,  therefore  he  found  out  a  way 
by  which  I  might  return  to  him.  This  made  a  good  man 
cry  out,  behold  !  what  manner  of  love  is  this,*  wherewith 
the  Father  hath  loved  us  ?  Here  is  the  grace  of  God ; 
here  is  the  good  will  of  God  -,  here  is  the  way  ',  a  w^jy 
what  way  ?  A  way  of  qoming  to  God  ',  a  v/ay  of  being 
again  reconciled  unto  God,  whom  we  had  provoked  by 
our  fins  ;  a  Vv^ay  of  enjoying  eternal  life  again,  after  we 
had  loft  all  pretence  to  it. 

The  next  queftion  is,  who  will  walk  in  the  v/ay  that 
leads  to  eternal  life  ?  We  would  all  have  eternal  life;  it 
is  the  univerfal  confent  of  all  nations  ;  all  would  have 
eternal  life  ;  but  the  cjueftion  is,  who  will  walk  in  the  way 
that  leads  to  it  ?  Some  of  the  nations  round  about,  and 
many  in  this  nation,  they  will  walk  in  their  own  way, 
and  yet  they  would  have  eternal  life  ;  but  their  way  muft 
be  of  the  fame  nature  and  quality  ,with  the  life  they  would 
have;  if  the  way  they  walk  in  be  not  of  the  fame  nature 
and  quality,  it  will  not  lead  to  it.  Let  every  one  exa- 
mine their  way  ;  let  every  one  examine  their  progrefs,  and 
their  lives  and  footfteps  in  this  world  ;  if  they  fow  to  the 
flefh,  they  fhall  of  the  ^eih  reap  corruption  ;  and  if  they 
fow  to  the  fpirit,  they  (hall  of  the  fpirit  reap  life  ever- 
lafting  ;  a  fuitabie  fruit  to  that  life  they  live,  and  the  way 
they  walk  in.  If  we  conclude  with  reafon  ;  with  pure, 
found  reafon,  we  muft  conclude  it  is  better  for  us  all  to 
walk  in  the  way  of  holincfs  ;  and  we  ihall  have  mor^ 
reafon  to   believe  .that  we  ihall  have  life  eternal,  than  in 

Y  J  walking 


^^^  Christ  the  IFay  to  Eternal  Life. 

walkinf^  in  an  unholv  wav,  therefore  v/e  fhould  be  refolved 
to  walk  in  the  \:'av  of  holine^'s ;  and  if  people  are  brought 
to  this,  it  is  an  eafy  thing  to  draw  them  to  confefTion  :  You 
fay  true,  it  is  better  to  walk  in  a  holy  way  than  an  un- 
holy way  j  but  alas  !  we  have  not  power  fo  to  do  j  we 
arc  feeble,  weak,  dark  and  ignorant  ;  and  we  have  many 
lufts,  temptations  and  impediments,  l}ing  in  our  way,  that 
it  is  not  pofiible  for  any  to  walk  in  that  way  j  we  know 
the  way,  v/e  underftand  the  way  well  enough';  you  would 
have  us  v/alk  by  the  light  of  Chriil,  and  the  didates  of 
our  own  confcicncics^  then  we  fhould  never  be  condemned 
for  any  thing  wc  do^  but  we  fnould  ftand  in  an  opennef^ 
of  accefs  to  God  ;  when  a  man  fmneth  againft  God,  fin 
lies  at  the  door  ;  but  they  that  fm  not,  have  an  accefs 
to  God.  Alas,  thefe  things  cannot  be  done  !  What  can 
a  poor   creature   do  that   wants  power  ? 

My  friends,  this  excufe  muft  go  no  further  ;  let  us  try 
snd  confider  in  the  prcfence  of  God  this  day,  the  pow- 
erful God  that  is  the  affifler  of  his  people;  let  us  try  how 
far  this  will  go,  I  have  no  power  of  m.yfelf ;  all  good  men 
errant  it  to  be  true,  you  have  not  power  to  walk  in  the  way 
of  hohnefs :  But  let  us  ask  another  queifion ;  doth  God 
require  of  thee  and  me  to  walk  in  the  way  of  holinefs, 
and  doth  he  deny  power  to  us  to  walk  in  it  ?  We  can- 
not xx^alk  in  the  way  of  holinefs,  but  by  the  operation  of 
his  power  working  in  us,  unto  the  extinguifhing  of  the 
life  of  fm  and  corruption,  that  hath  hindered  us  all  this 
\^hile;  God  knows  we  cannot  do  it  ourfelves.  Chrift  tells 
his  difciples,  without  rn^e  ye  can  do  nothing,  nothing  good, 
nothing  that  is  right.  This  being  concluded  on,  all  power 
comes  from  God ;"  the  next  queftion  is,  how,  and  which 
\i'£LY  mufl:  we  receive  power  fro  mi  God  greater  than  our 
own  power  ?  Which  is  the  way  of  people's  receiving  pow- 
er from  God  ?  You  have  read  how  people  came  to  have 
po^'er  ',  to  as  many  as  bdiev-ed,  to  them  he  gave  poiver  to 
iecomc  the  fo?is  of  God.  What  fignihes  this  to  them  that 
do  not  beheve  ?  If  believing  be  the  way  to  obtain  pov/- 
er,  it  is  nothing  to  thofe  that  do  not  believe;  there  faith 
is  ncceflary,  in  the  Erft  place,  for  obtaining  of  this  pow- 
er :    This  is  a  great  myftery,  fuch  an  odd  faying,  that  the 

world 


Christ  the  Way  to  Eternal  Life.         j^^ 

World  knows  not  what  to  make  of  it  :  Believers,  we  are 
all  believers  ;  I  believe  the  truth  of  the  principles  of  the 
Chriftian  religion,  and  I  believe  all  the  articles  of  the 
creed :  To  talk  of  believing  at  this  time  of  the  dav,  we 
have  believed  this  twenty,  or  thirty,  or  forty  years,  bur 
the  firft  aiTt  of  faith  is  yet  to  be  done  after  your  fenfe  :  It 
is  true,  with  the  greateft  part  of  the  nation  ;  the  firft  acl 
of  faith  is  not  yet  begun,  for  their  faith  is  men's  £aith  : 
"Wq  are  for  the  faith  that  was  delivered  to  the  faints  ;  it 
is  the  gift  of  God,  it  comes  from  the  operation  of  God  ; 
fo  that  I  may  conclude,  whofoever  remains  a  ftranger  to 
the  operation  of  God,  he  is  a  ftranger  to  the  true  faith  ; 
and  they  who  eftrange  themfelves  from  that  which  God 
worketh,  are  ftrangers  to  the  operation  of  God.  There- 
fore, till  people's  minds  are  turned  to  Chrift,  whoizi  God 
hath  fent,  who  is  appointed  to  be  for  falvation  to  the 
ends  of  the  earth  ;  till  men  come  to  reduce  the  govern- 
ment both  of  the  foul  and  body  to  him,  as  the  captain 
of  their  falvation  ;  till  they  come  to  be  thus  refigned, 
they  cannot  come  to  the  true  faith. 

Now  when  God  worketh  this  relignation  in  us,  a  man 
will  refled:  upon  himfelf  and  fay,  alas  I  have  been  mmc 
own  keeper  too  long,  I  fee  I  have  gone  off  from  God, 
now  I  will  return  to  him,  and  refign  up  myfelf  to  the 
Lord,  that  he  may  work  in  me  what  he  pleafeth  to  work  : 
"When  men  come  to  this  refignation  of  foul,  they  have 
£aith  given  them,  they  m.uft  believe  God  will. never  leave 
them  nor  forfake  them,  but  he  v/ill  magnify  his  power  in 
their  wcaknefs ;  I  will  reft  my  foul  upon  him,  and  caft 
my  care  upon  him  that  careth  for  me  ',  it  is  not  faith  bare- 
ly in  words,  and  in  the  articles  of  the  creed,  but  it  is  a 
faith  in  the  Son  of  God,  to  whom  all  power  in  Heaven 
and  Earth  is  given  ;  I  may  exped  a  fhare  of  it,  he  will 
give  me  a  Httle,  if  I  come  to  him  for  it ;  and  if  I  be  faith- 
ful in  a  little,  he  will  give  me  more  ;  the  reafon  why  you 
want  power,  is,  becaufe  you  want  faith;  and  the  reafon 
of  your  want  of  faith,  is,  becaufe  you  want  a  relignation 
to  the  will  of  God  y  you  v/ill  be  your  own  carvers,  and 
your  own  keepers  and  guides.  When  you  come  to  this 
lefignation  to  the  will  of  God,  God  will  give  you  power, 

and 


^^6  Christ  All  m  All. 

and  then  you  will  find  him  the  God  of  all  grace  ;  you 
are  what  you  are  by  the  grace  of  God,  and  by  his  pov/er, 
and  by  that  power  you  will  obey  his  will  :  Here  is  faith 
that  giveth  glory  to  God,  to  that  God  that  takes  an  un- 
holy pjan  and  makes  him  holy  y  how  doth  he  this  ?  By 
his  holy  fpirit,  which  is  as  fire  that  burneth  up  that 
which  is  corruptible  ,*  then  the  man  is  well  (I  fpeak  ac- 
cording to  the  dictates  of  the  fpirit)  when  he  is  recon- 
ciled to  God  by  Chrifl:  Jefus,  the  Mediator  between  God 
and  man,  the  Mediator  of  the  new  covenant,  who  maketh 
our  peace.  That  you  may  come  to  the  knowledge  of  the 
day  of  the  Lord's  vifitation,  is  what  our  fouls  labour  and 
travel  for,  that  you  may  be  in  the  unity  of  the  fame  fpirit 
after  the  defire  of  all  nations  is  come  ;  he  is  come  to  you, 
that  vG^u  may  all  fay  within  yourfelves,  falvation  this  day 
is  come  to  our  houfeSj  and  into  our  hearts., 


S  E  R  M  O  .N     XXXI. 
Christ  All  in  All. 

Vreached   at  DEVONSHiRE-HouSEy    June  lo,    1688, 

f^"l~^HE  Lord  Jeius  Chrift  is  the  light,  life  and  virtue 
I  that  can  only  fatisfy.  Chrift  is  all  in  all. 
-^  There  is  nothing  can  latisfy  the  fouls  of  the  up- 
right, unlefs  they  feel  life  and  virtue  to  flow  from  Chrift 
Jcius  ;  and  this,  whether  it  flow  infcrumentaliy  or  im- 
mediately, always  comforteth  y  it  always  refreiheth  the  up- 
light  in    heart. 

Therefore  all  they  that  defire  fatisfa6tion  to  their  fouls, 
that  meet  together  upon  that  account,  they  ought  to  have 
their  eyes  turned  to  the  Lord,  that  they  may  be  capa- 
ble to  underlland  the  m.inifl:ration  of  the  fpirit,  whether 
in  thcmfelves,  or  through  any  other.  For  while  they  are 
cxercifed  outwardly,  and  the  dependence  of  their  fouls  is 
I'.pon  that  which  is  outward,  there  remains  a  ic-il  upon 
::he  mind,  that  they  many  times  hear  excellent  things  ipo- 
ken   of  the  kingdom    of  God,   but  they  underftand  them 

not. 


Christ  All  in  All.  ^^y 

not,  becaufe  they  are  alienated  and  eftrangcd  in  their  minds 
from  that  of  God  in  themfelves,  that  fhould  give  them  an 
underflanding.  >J^e  never  pretend  to  give  people  an  un- 
derftanding,  we  have  always  faid,  that  is  the  work  of  God. 
We  have  fpoken  many  things  of  the  kingdom  of  Gcd,  ex- 
cellent things  have  been  revealed  to  us  by  his  holy  fpirit^ 
and  the  fame  fpirit  hath  given  us  utterance,  to  fpeak  of 
the  great  things  of  the  law  of  God  ',  yet  many,  that  have 
been  conftant  hearers  of  thefe  things,  remain  ignorant, 
and  are  infenfible,  becaufe  they  are  not  exercifed  in  their 
own  meafure  of  the  grace  and  light  of  the  Lord  Jefus 
Chrifl,  by  which  they  Ihould  receive  and  underftand  them. 
This  hath  made  me  often  lament  the  cafe  of  many 
of  the  people  of  this  city  and  nation,  who  are  daily  hear- 
ers of  the  word  of  God  preached,  and  retain  it  not  in 
their  hearts  :  The  fowers  are  gone  out  to  fow,  but  ma- 
ny receive  it  in  the  high-way-groimd  ;  the  way  that  every 
thing  can  pafs  in,  there  they  receive  the  word  fown, 
and  the  devil  catcheth  it  away  ;  and  though  they  have 
heard  excellent  things,  of  the  ftrength,  ability  and  power 
of  God,  that  he  miuiPcreth  to  his  people,  they  remain  fo 
v/eak  and  fo  feeble,  that  they  are  blown  away  with  every 
blaft  of  the  adverfary,  with  every  temptation,  and  with  every 
fnare  and  gin  that  is  laid  for  them,  they  are  catched,  and 
enfnared,  and  taken  j  and  fo  thefe  come  to  meetings  again 
and  again,  one  year  after  another  :  I  might  fay  unto  you, 
wherefore  do  you  come  ?  It  may  be  you  may  fay,  we 
defire  to  be  fatisfied  ,•  we  defire  fatisfaCtion  for  our  fouls. 
Do  you  fo  ?  Then  I  tell  you,  you  may  come  all  the  days 
of  your  life,  and  want  it,  and  lay  down  your  heads  in 
forrow  at  iaft  for  all  that.  For*  all  the  words  in  the 
world  will  never  communicate  that  heavenly  life  and  vir- 
tue which  brings  true  fatisfadion  to  the  foul,  unto  any, 
except  to  thofc  that  have  an  exercife  in  their  own  mind 
and  fpirits,  in  that  which  they  have  of  God  ',  they  mufl 
firft  be  brought  to  know  the  way  they  fhould  walk  in, 
and  to  believe  that  is  the  v/ay  :  \Vhen  people  believe  this 
is  m.y  way,  the  light  within  is  my  way,  the  grace  of  God 
is  my  way  ;  that  fearches  and  tries  my  heart,  that  is  my 
way  I  mufl  walk  in,   fpeak  in,  and   think  in,   and  do  ail 

that 


^^8  Christ  All  in  All, 

that  I  have  to  do  in  ',  when  I  believe  this  is  that  way, 
then  this  belief  obhgeth  men  to  take  heed  to  their  ways, 
to  their  footfteps.  And  here  they  that  are  thus  exercifed, 
are  in  a  tender  care  every  ftep  they  take  in  their  way  ; 
and  fo  perhaps  they  may  receive  great  benefits  by  hearing 
the  reports  they  do  daily  hear  from  thofe  that  were  in 
the  way  before  them,  and  have  travelled  further  in  it,  than 
they  ever  yet  have  done.  The  experiences  of  the  fervants 
of  the  Lord,  are  daily  helpful  to  them,  and  they  are  daily 
comforted,  ftrengthened,  and  confirmed,  to  hear  how  they 
have  fped,  that  have  travelled  through  their  condition,  and 
through  their  prefent  ftate  ',  the  helps  and  advantages  they 
have  met  with,  will  do  thee  good,  and  comfort  thee  :  But 
what  is  this  to  thofe  that  are  not  in  the  way,  that  have 
not  faith  in  the  way  ?  Tho'  they  have  a  clear  belief  of  the 
dodrine  and  wav  itfelf,  vet  they  are  not  exercifmg  them- 
felves  to  walk  therein  j  for  they  do  but  as  the  reft  of  the 
world,  faying,  this  good  man,  and  the  other  good  man, 
made  a  good  fermon.  Why  was  it  good  ?  Not  for  any 
good  they  found  by  it,  but  becaufe  he  raifed  his  dodrine 
well,  and  proved  it  from  the  fcripture,  therefore  we  are 
obhged  to   believe  it. 

But  now  this  good  doclrine,  if  it  be  ever  fo  good,  and 
ever  fo  firmly  proved,  it  brings  forth  no  fruit  to  the  amend- 
ment of  life,  faving  in  them  that  believe,  faving  in  them 
where  there  is  an  exercife  in  the  fear  of  God,  where  peo- 
ple are  concerned  for  their  foul's  fatisfadion.  For  they  that 
look  for  true  fatisfadion  by  this,  or  that,  or  the  other 
way  of  the  world,  they  fpend  their  days  without  fatisfac- 
tion,  and  fo  at  lafl  they  die  in  forrow  ;  and  fo  it  will  be 
to  the  end  of  this,  and  all  fucceeding  generations. 

And  therefore,  my  friends,  though  I  confefs  it  is  not  a 
grief  to  me,  but  a  joy,  to  fee  people  willing  to  hear  the 
truth,  and  to  come  together  in  great  affemblies ;  tho  I  fay, 
this  is  not  a  grief,  but  a  joy,  for  I  am  not  about  to  difcou- 
rage  them  that  do  fo  :  Yet  I  mnfl  be  plain  with  you  y 
I  know  what  I  fay,  and  you  will  know  it  too  one  day, 
that  all  this  meeting  together,  and  gathering  in  great  af- 
femblies, and  hearing  what  is  preached  to  you,  with  ever 
fo  great  delight  to  your  minds,   it  will  do  you  no  good, 

unlefs 


Christ  All  m  All,  j59 

iinlefs  you  believe  in  the  grace  of  God,    that   hath   been 
miniftered  to   you  through  Jefus  Chrift. 

And  when  people  come  to  this  foundation,  and  build 
on  it,  and  grow  every  day  more  and  more  diligent  in  the 
exercife  of  their  minds  towards  God,  and  examine  their 
way,  and  examine  their  footfteps,  how  they  have  walked 
yefterday,  how  they  have  walked  this  day,  and  how  their 
minds  are  exercifed  at  this  prefent  time,  whether  they  have 
anfv/ered  the  grace  of  God  ;  v/hen  they  come  to  be  thus 
exercifed,  they  will  look  upon,  themfelves  as  bound  in  duty 
to  give  account  to  God  every  moment,  for  their  thoughts. 
Words  and  adtions.  When  they  are  thus  exercifed,  then  let 
them  come  to  meetings  in  the  name  of  God,  and  hear 
the  experiences  of  t-hem  that  have  gone  before  them,  and 
treafured  up  fayings  in  their  hearts  for  their  encourage- 
ment, and  they  will  find  this  will  be  a  help  to  thern  : 
But  if  people  go  and  build  a  religion  upon  the  fay- 
ings of  this  and  that  man  ;  nay,  were  it  upon  the  fayings 
of  Chriil:  himfelf  and  his  apoftles,  if  they  were  here  to  preach 
to  them,  and  build  a  religion  upon  their  words,  and  fay- 
ings, and  dodrines,  without  the  operations  of  the  Spirit 
of  God  upon  their  hearts,  inclining  them  to  holinefs  and 
righteoufnefs,  this  religion  will  do  them  no  good  :  By  this, 
to  make  the  beft  of  it,  they  might  make  a  fhift  to  reach 
to  a  form  of  godhnefs  ;  people  conforming  themfelves  out- 
wardly, to  the  outNjc'ard  precept  or  command  from  with- 
out, it  might  amount  to  a  form  of  godlinefs  ',  yet  it  might 
be  fuppofed  and  granted,  that  the  power  of  God,  the  pow- 
er of  divine  life  and  virtue,  where  it  comes,  it  doth  fanc- 
tify  and  feafon  the  mind,  and  bring  men  into  an  awful 
reverence  of  the  living  God,  their  Maker,  that  they  might 
ftand  in  awe,  and  not  fin  againft  him  ,  for  here  is  the 
life  of  religion. 

This  hath  a  great  difference  from  the  manner  of  building 
men  in  religion,  that  many  have  been  acquainted  withal. 
They  tell  us,  our  fathers  before  us  were  built  up  in  thefe 
forms,  and  modes,  and  methods  of  religion  j  they  received 
fo  many  dodrines,  ordinances,  iacraments  and  articles  ; 
and  when  thefe  are  received,  believed  and  profeffed,  there's 
a  faint  for  you,  there's  a  child  of  God,  and  a  member  of 

the 


j.5b  Christ  All  in  All* 

the  church.  How  came  he  to  be  fo  ?  He  was  inftructed 
in  all  the  principles  of  the  Chriftian  religion,  and  fubjecl 
to  all  the  ordinances  of  the  church,  faith  one  ;  and  faith 
another,  he  could  fpeak  excellently  concerning  the  do(5lrine 
of  our  religion  j  therefore  he  is  certainly  a  child  of  God, 
and  a  member  of  Chrifl:  ',  but  all  this  acceptation  of  the 
principles  of  the  Chriftian  religion,  of  dodrines,  and  ordi- 
nances, and  facraments  ',  all  this  will  not  amount  to  the 
purifying  of  the  heart,  and  cleanfing  and  purging  of  the 
confcience  ;  nay,  it  would  not  come  to  a  far  lefs  matter, 
to  the  bridling  of  the  tongue  ;  but  they  would  be  in  a 
paffion  upon  the  leaft  provocation,  and  upon  the  lead  dif- 
guil  and  diftaile  given  them,  their  tongues  would  run  over 
into  wrath,  and  into  wantonnefs,  and  prophanenefs  ;  and 
upon  any  occafion  and  provocation  given,  their  corrupted 
words  would  prevail,  and  lead  them  into  deceit  and  co- 
vetous pradiices  ,  and  though  the  fruits  and  works  of  the 
old  man  remain,  yet  they  will  follow  the  principle  of  the 
regenerate,   as  far  as  they  confift  in  words. 

if  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  fay,  except  a  man  he  horn 
again  he  cannot  enter  into  the  kingdom  of  God,  then  this 
old  corrupt  birth  will  preach  a  fermon  upon  this  text, 
and  profefs  it.  Hov/  many  have  taken  upon  them  to  preach 
a  fermon,  upon  fome  excellent  fayings  of  Chrift,  that 
never  knew  what  regeneration  was ;  for  the  ?iew  birth  al- 
ways hath  a  neiv  life  ;  but  they  have  lived  the  life  of  car- 
nal corrupt  fallen  man,  and  yet  preach  a  fermon  upon 
regeneration  :  Thus  the  minifter  hath  done,  and  the  peo- 
ple have  believed  him,  and  have  been  gathered  into  llich 
and  fuch  a  church  ;  for  moft  put  themfelves  into  one  church 
or  other  ;  they  have  been  covenanted  Chriftians,  members 
of  a  church  ;  but  they  have  wanted  that  which  makes  a 
Chriftian,  a  religious  man,  viz.  the  anfiver  of  a  good 
I'onfcience, 

A  true  Chriftian,  he  is  bound  to  be  an  obedient  child 
unto  God,  that  begat  him  of  his  own  will,  by  the  word 
of  truth  j  and  fuch  a  one  mav  be  in  expectation  of  an  an- 
fwer  of  peace  from  God,  through  Jefus  Chrift,  in  whom 
he  hath  believed,  and  by  whom  he  is  reconciled  to  God. 
If  you  take  away   this  new   birth,    and  this   new   nature, 

and 


Christ  All  in  All*  ^^i 

and  an  anfwer  of  peace,  from  God  to  the  foul,  then  tell 
me  what  the  ChrifHan  religion  is,  more  than  the  religion 
of  Heathens  and  Pagans^  that  worfhip  flocks  and  ftones  ? 
All  the  reft  is  but  talk,  and  men  are  never  a  whit  the 
better  for  it  :  One  man  may  excel  another  in  talk  and  dif- 
courfe  :  A  debauched  man  many  times  hath  been  able  to 
talk  at  a  great  rate,  and  to  fpeak  notable  things  ;  and  fome 
have  been  ready  to  fay,  it  is  a  pity  a  man  of  fuch  ex- 
cellent parts  fhould  lead  a  wicked  life  :  But  alas  !  if  fuch 
a  one  can  talk  of  the  powe^'  of  God  ftill,  and  the  devil 
hath  power  over  him  ',  or  if  he  fpeak  highly  of  the  wif- 
dom  of  God,  yet  he  himfelf  plays  the  fool  abominably; 
fo  that  by  fuch  a  kind  of  life,  and  fuch  a  kind  of  reli- 
gion, people  never  attain  to  fatisfadrion  j  after  forty,  or 
fifty,  or  fixty  years  fpent  therein,  they  muft  after  all,  lay 
down  their  heads  in  forrow,  when  they  have  been  con- 
ftant  keepers  to  the  church,  and  fayers  of  their  prayers, 
and  receivers  of  the  facrament,  and  ftedfaftly  believe  the 
articles  of  the  creed,  and  make  profeffion  of  all  the  parts  of 
the  Chriftian  religion  ;  yet  after  all,  they  muft  lay  down  their 
heads  in  forrow  :  "V^hy,  what  is  the  matter  ?  what  did  they 
want  ?  They  wanted  faith  in  the  power  of  God,  that  fhould 
enable  them  to  overcome  their  fm,  and  live  in  obedience 
to  God  ;  and  they  wanted  to  their  outward  profeffion, 
the  anfwer  of  a  good  conference,  and  juflificatioft  through 
Chrifi  the   Mediator* 

They  talked  of  redemption  through  Jefus  Chrift,  but 
were  never  redeemed  from  their  fins  :  This  is  fo  evident  and 
plain,  that  there  is  no  fpeaking  to  the  contrary  :  If  you 
fee  a  drunkard,  or  a  fwearer,  or  an  unclean  perfon,  and 
if  he  fhall  preach,  and  make  an  excellent  fermon  of  the 
redemption  that  there  is  in  Chrift,  and  therein  tell  you, 
what  great  benefits  they  receive  by  Chrift,  that  are  true 
believers  ',  and  that  Chrift  is  a  Redeemer,  and  redeemeth 
them  from  the  curfe  of  the  law,  and  from  the  guilt  of 
fin,  and  reconcileth  them  to  God;  fo  that  he  that  was 
.  under  the  curfe  of  the  law,  and  an  heir  of  v/rath,  is  now 
a  child  of  God  :  Now  if  you  come  to  examine  this  man, 
and  ask  him,  whether  he  is  redeemed,  and  delivered  from 
fm,    fo  that  fin  hath  no  more  dominion    over  him,  he  will 

Z  z  tell 


^07.  '  Christ  All  in  All. 

tell  you,  no  :  What  not  redeemed,  w^hen  thou  haft  been  a  be- 
liever thus  long  ?  Art  thou  flill  under  the  bondage  and  cap- 
tivity of  fin  ?  Then  thou  art  under  the  government  of  fome 
other  mafter  than  Chrift  ',  fome  other  mafter  hath  rule  over 
thee,  if  thou  art  not  redeemed  from  thy  fwearing,  lying,  drun- 
kenne!s,and  uncleannefs;  if  thou  art  led  to  thefe  things,  thou 
art  under  the  power  and  government  of  fome  other  mafter 
than  Chrift.  Now  this  hath  ftartled  people,  when  they 
have  been  thinking,  that  they  have  been  baptized  perlbns, 
and  profelling  Chriftians,  and  they  have  flattered  themfelves 
with  a  groundlefs  confidence,  let  me  die  when  I  will, 
this  night,  or  to  morrow,  I  lliall  be  faved  by  Chrift  ',  I 
am  an  heir  of  the  kingdom  of  God  :  Let  me  tell  thee, 
thou   diihonoureft  the  name  of   God   by  thy  prefumption. 

When  people  come  to  examine  matters,  and  read  over  the 
book  of  their  confciences,  and  fee  what  fervants  they  have  been 
to  the  devil,  how  the  devil  hath  led  them  up  and  down  at 
his  will,  thofe  that  w^ere  covenanted  Chriftians,  followers 
of  Chrift  ;  when  the  devil  hath  faid  to  them,  follov/  me, 
then  fayeft  thou  I  will;  when  the  devil  faith,  follow  me 
to  this  and  the  other  evil  thing,  I  fee  I  cannot  refift  j 
1  cannot  withftand  the  temptation  ',  I  was  overtaken,  and 
lurpriled,  and  led  away  by  liich  an  allurement,  and  en- 
fnared  by  it  :  I  pray  thee  leave  off  profefting,  for  thou  dif- 
graceft  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  j  he  and  his  difciples  did 
not  fo :  He  was  tempted  as  thou  art,  and  his  difciples 
were  tempted  as  thou  art;  fo  were  Chriftians  of  old  time  ; 
and  Chriftians  that  live  in  the  prefent  time  do  meet  with 
many  temptations,  but  they  are  not  at  the  devil's  beck  and 
calL  as  thou  art. 

The  apoftle  Paul,  in  one  palTage  of  his  life,  we  ftnd 
came  to  be  awakened  and  ftartled  :  There  was  a  light  from 
Heare'd  fhone  about  him,  he  heard  the  voice  of  Chrift 
fpeaking  to  him.,  Saul,  Saul,  why  perfecuteft  thou  me  ?  and 
he  faid,  ivho  art  thou  Lord?  and  the  Lord  faid,  1  ajn  Jesus 
iv/iom  then  perfecutejl  ;  it  is  hard  for  thee  to  kick  agawft 
the  pricks ;  and  he  trembling  and  aftonifhed  faid,  Lord^ 
ivhat  vjilt  thou  have  me  to  do  ?  Acts,  ix.  4.  He  was  brought 
to  this  pafs  after  his  convincement,  but  before  that  he  was 
overcome  and  led  captive;  and  when  he  would  do  good, 

€vil 


Christ  All  in  All.  ^6j 

evil  was  prefent  with  him  :  To  willy  faith  he,  is  prefent^ 
but  how  to  perform  I  know  not ;  but  he  did  not  call  this 
a  happy  ftatc.  He  did  not  fay  then,  I  am  in  a  good 
condition,  when  I  am  led  captive  by  the  devil  at  his  will  : 
The  good  that  I  would  do,  I  do  not,  and  1  am  carnal, 
and  fold  under  Tin  :  He  doth  not  fay,  this  is  a  good  con- 
dition, I  am  fatisfied  with  it ;  fee  what  he  calls  that  con- 
dition ;  he  gives  it  a  more  right  name  than  many  do  now- 
a-days,  that  fay,  this  is  the  ftate  of  God's  children  '-,  that 
the  bed:  of  all  God's  children  have  not  power  to  live  with- 
out lin,  and  overcome  all  their  corruptions,  that  they  fin 
in  their  bed  duties,  and  can  do  nothing  but  fm,  and  that 
fin  mixeth  itfelf  in  all  their  holy  duties  and  performances : 
Many  of  their  m^jiiilers  tell  them,  that  if  they  think  they 
can  perform  any  duty  without  fm,  they  deceive  themfelves, 
and  run  the  hazard  of  being  accurfed.  But  they  learned  not 
this  of  Chrift,  but  of  fome  other  mafter.  Paul  gave  this 
ftate  another  name^  I  would  you  were  as  wife  when  you 
are  in  this  ftate  and  condition.  O  vor etched  tnan  that  I 
am^  who  fhall  deliver  me  <*  I  fee  a  wretchednefs  in  this  con- 
dition ;  .1  fee,  if  I  be  not  delivered  out  of  it,  I  muft  perifti 
to  all  eternity.  This  is  not  a  ftate  to  live  in  ;  who  can 
live  at  eafe  in  fuch  a  condition  as  this  ?  Who  can  but 
cry  out,  who  fliall  deliver  me  from  this  body  of  fin  and 
death  ?  Alas !  we  hear  no  fuch  cry  now  among  priefts  or 
people,  and  feparate  congregations  :  I  fear  this  cry  is  al- 
moft  loft  among  us,  unlefs  it  be  fome  few  that  hear  the 
voice  of  God,  and  feel  fuch  a  ftroke  of  the  divine  power 
as  Paul  did,  and  anfwer  to  the  heavenly  voice.  I  confefs 
that  I  myfelf  have  heard  fuch  a  cry,  and  have  been  fenfiblc 
of  my  woful  captivity  and  bondage,  by  reafon  of  fin. 
And  though  I  had  a  mind  to  do  good,  I  could  not  do  it ; 
it  was  my  defire  that  I  might  fin  no  more,  I  would  not  fin 
againft  the  Lord,  if  1  could  avoid  it ;  and  when  I  would  do 
good,  I  found  that  evil  was  prefent  with  m.e ;  but  I  was 
far  from  fitting  down  there,  and  faying,  this  is  the  ftate 
and  condition  of  God's  people ;  it  is  as  well  with  me  as  it 
was  with  the  apoftle  Paul,  therefore  I  will  fit  down  in 
this  ftate:  The  people  of  God  cannot  find  fatisfadlion  in 
fuch  a  ftate  as  this  i  though  I  confefs,  that  God's  peculiar 

people 


^<54  Christ  All  In  All. 

people  at  firft  came  to  this  flate,  for  their  convidion  ;  and 
the  opening  of  their  minds,  and  enUghtcning  their  under- 
ftandings,  to  fee  the  evil  of  their  ways  ;  but  they  do  not 
come  to  this  ftate,  as  to  their  reft,  and  then  perfuaGe  them- 
felves  that  they  are  in  the  condition  of  the  children  of 
God  y   but  they  give  their  ftate  a  right  name,  and  cry  out, 

0  xure'tched  man  that  I  am  !  what  a  miferable  condition  am 

1  fallen  into  !  I  did  not  fee  it  before  :  Now  my  eyes  are 
opened,  now  my  underftanding  is  illuminated,  now  I  fee 
that  the  corruption  of  my  nature  prevails  againft  the  grace 
of  God  ;  and  when  I  would  join  with  the  grace  of  God, 
and  the  motions  of  his  Holy  Spirit,  the  enemy  is  prefent 
to  lead  me  away ;  I  am  not  now  in  a  happy  ftate,  but  I  am 
fo  far  advanced  that  I  am  convinced  of  my  miferable  and 
wretched  ftate  and  condition ;  if  fome  way  or  other  benotfound 
for  my  deliverance,  I  lliall  never  fee  the  face  of  God  with 
com.fort.  Then  arifes  that  cry,  who  fliall  deliver  me  ? 
Thus  the  apoftle  Faul  (Ro?n.  vii.)  fets  forth  the  ftr:t,e  of 
his  convincement,  and  how  miferable  a  condition  he  was 
in  :  Then  he  goes  further,  and  tells  you  how  it  was  with 
him :  I  t/iank  GocL  throuQ-Ji  JcCus  Chrifl  our  Lord,  O  !  I 
have  caufe  enough  to  thank  God,  I  am  not  a  wretched  man 
now,  I  am  not  carnal,  fold  under  fin  ;  I  am  not  led  cap- 
tive by  the  devil  at  his  will  now.  \^hy  how  fo  ?  the 
apoftle  faith,,  'tke  lavj  of  the  fplrit  of  life  in  Chrifl  JefuSy 
hath  fet  me  free  from  the  law  of  fin  and  death.  Here  is 
fomcthinf?  to  elorv,  and  to  comfort  the  foul  in  :  The  lav/ 
of  the  Spirit  of  life  triumphed  in  his  foul,  and  delivered  him 
from  the  laxi^  of  fm  and  death,  and  redeemed  him  from  the 
power  of  fin,  and  made  him  ferve  God  with  freedom  and 
liberty.  '  1  thank  God,  through  Jcfus  Chrift  our  Lcrd :  I 
would  have  all  come  to  this,  to  thank  God  ',  not  only  in 
words,  but  in  reality,  in  deed  and  truth.  For  one  may 
teach  a  parrot  to  talk  over  thefe  words ;  but  it  is  the  law 
of  the  fpirit  of  life  in  Chrift  Jefus,  that  will  make  you  free 
from  the  law  of  fin  and  death. 

Tliis  is  a  hard  left  on,  therefore  you  muPc  go  home  into 
vour  own  consciences,  before  you  can  mjake  a  right  judg- 
ment of  things,  and  give  a  right  anfwer  to  yourfelves. 
The  law  of  the  fpint  of  life  will   fet  thee  free  from  the 

law 


Christ  All  in  All,  ^6^ 

law  of  thy  paffion,  and  of  thy  pride  and  covetoufnefs, 
and  fenfuality,  and  the  law  of  thy  carnal  inclinations.  Art 
thou  fet    free  from  thefe  ? 

Now  when  people  come  to  examine  themfelves,  they  have 
no  way  to  flee  to,  but  they  muft  take  up  a  daily  crofs,  and 
truft  to  the  Lord  Jefus  for  their  deliverance  ',  who  hath 
enlightened  them,  to  fee  their  wretched  and  woful  ftate  ;  and 
illuminated  their  underftandings,  that  they  might  come  to 
him,  in  order  to  their  being  deUvered  from  the  dominion 
of  fin. 

The  greateft  part  of  the  world  think  this  is  a  thing  im- 
pollible,  and  therefore  do  not  hope  to  be  fet  free  from  the 
bondage  of  their  fins.  Which  of  thefe  ways  is  it  that  thou 
takeft  ?  I  am  afraid  many  of  you  have  taken  the  wrong 
way  :  I  judge  no  one  in  particular,  but  I  fpeak  this  in 
faithfulnefs  and  love  to  your  fouls. 

If  there  be  any  here,  that  are  fenfible  of  their  fins,  and 
in  a  captivated  ftate  under  fin  and  fatan,  who  have  defpair- 
ed  of  ever  being  fet  at  liberty,  and  have  faid,  it  is  a  vain 
thing  to  expect  it  ;  for  fome  learned  men  have  told  them, 
that  there  is  no  deUverance  from  fin  in  this  world,  there- 
fore it  is  in  vain  for  m.e  to  ftrive,  in  vain  for  me  to  en- 
gage myfelf  in  a  continual  care  and  conflict,  in  a  con- 
tinual warring  and  watching  againft  fin  ;  for  this  deliver- 
ance can  never  be  obtained  in  this  life  :  It  is  in  vain  to 
feek  for  a  thing  that  can  never  be  found,  and  to  ftrive 
for  that  which  can  never  be  obtained.  If  there  be  any  fuch 
here  prefent,  I  have  this  to  fay  to  them,  that  the  Lord,  in 
his  infinite  mercy,  hath  done  two  great  things  for  you,  to 
help  you  out  of  this  defpair,  of  obtaining  a  full  deliver- 
ance from  the  bondage  of  your  fins. 

Firft,  God  hath  placed  a  witnefs  for  himfelf  in  your  bo- 
foms,  in  your  confciences.  Let  me  ask  you,  have  ye  not  got 
victory  over  many  fins  and  temptations,  that  you  have  been 
affaulted  with,  from  your  childhood  to  this  day  ?  I  might 
challenge  any  perfon  in  this  alTembly,  when  a  temptati- 
on hath  been  prefented  before  you,  hath  there  not  been 
fomething  within  you,  to  tell  you  of  the  danger  of  com- 
plying with  it  ?  Hath  not  thy  confcience  warned  thee,  and 
called"  upon  thee,  O  take  heed,  do  not  this  evil  thing,  do 

not 


^66  Christ  All  In  All. 

not  cheat  thy  neighbour,  do  not  commit  this  fin  ;  whe- 
ther drunkennefs,  or  uncleannefs,  or  v/liatfoever  fin  thou 
waft  tempted  to  :  Now,  didft  thou  join  to  that  voice  in 
thine  own  conlcience  ?  And  did  it  not  help  thee  over  the 
temptation  ?  And  when  thou  didft  efcape  the  fin,  xxaft  thou 
not  glad  of  it  ?  and  diJft  thou  not  rejoice  that  thou  obtainedft 
vidory  over  it  ?  Satan  laid  a  inare,  and  an  opportunity  before 
me,  to  commit  fuch  a  fin  :  but  I  did  not  join  with  it,  and  now 
I  am  glad  of  it.  It  was  not  only  the  devil's  fault,  for 
he  came  to  his  own,  but  there  was  an  evil  inclination  in 
my  heart  to  it  :  How  came  it  to  pafs  thou  didft  not  do 
it  ?  i  knew  it  was  a  fin  againft  the  Lord.  How  didft 
thou  know  that  ?  I  knew  in  my  confcience,  that  if  I  did 
it,  I  muft  fin  againft-  light,  and  againft  conviction,  and 
againft  grace  received  ;  and  that  was  the  reafon  I  did  not 
do  it.  Thus  thou  acknowledgeft  thine  own  confcience  help- 
ed thee  againft  the  temptation. 

Now  1  appeal  to  ail  your  confciences,  that  hear  mc 
this  day,  whether  God  hath  not  done  this  kindnefs  for 
you  y  and  there  is  none  here  but  hath  been  fome  time  helped 
out  of  temptation  ?  I  do  not  believe  that  ill  of  any,  that 
they  comply  with  all  the  temptations  they  meet  with,  but 
the  light  in  their  confciences  hath  fhewn  them  the  evil  of 
fin,  and  they  have  been  kept  out  of  it,  and  they  have 
been  glad  of  it  afterwards. 

Now  this  is  one  great  kindnefs,  which  God  hath  done  for 
every  one  of  you,  in  order  to  help  you  out  of  this  defpair 
of  being   delivered  from  your  fins. 

Defpair  in  the  common  notion  of  it,  is  that  which  makes 
a  man  doubt  of  his  eternal  falvation  :  I  jliall  go  to  hell 
when  I  die  ;  there  is  no  mercy  for  vie.  This  defpair  hath 
fo  wrought  upon  people,  that  many  have  loft  their  wits,  and 
common  fenfe,  and  at  laft  made  away  with  themfelves ;  many 
have  been  diftracled  and  undone  in  this  world,  while  they 
lived  in  it,  and  at  laft  have  difpatchcd  themfelves  out  of 
it.  And  there  is  another  defpair;  a  defpair  of  getting  vic- 
tory over  their  corruptions,  and  obtaining  a  freedom  from 
fin  :  This  latter  defpair,  this  nation  is  generally  fallen  into  ; 
though  the  eflFecls  of  the  other  defpair  is  lamentable  to  be- 
hold, the    effeds   of  this  will   be  as  bad  one   day,  it  not 

prevented 


Christ  All  in  All.  ^(y/ 

prevented  by  redifying  that  miftake  men  lie  under.  'S^'hy 
fhouldeft  thou  defpair  of  the  power  of  God  to  help  thee,  and  of 
the  grace  of  God,  and  of  the  good  will  of  God  for  thy  de- 
liverance? if  thou  wilt  not  join  with  the  grace  of  God, 
and  the  power  of  God  that  is  ready  to  help  thee,  and  give 
deliverance  from  thy  fins,  the  confequence  will  be  dreadful 
at  the  laft.  Therefore  believe  in  that  grace  of  God,  which 
hath  helped  thee  againft  fome  temptations,  and  given  thee 
vidory  over  fome  fins,  that  it  will,  if  thou  faithfully  join 
with  it,   give  thee  victory  over  all. 

Secondly,  Confider  God  hath  done  another  kindnefs  for 
thee,  he  hath  fent  his  light  and  truth  into  thy  heart,  to  en- 
gage thee  in  a  war  againft  fin  :  There  are  a  great  many 
faithful  foldiers  of  Chrift,  that  have  fought  this  battle  be- 
fore you,  and  have  obtained  the  viclof-y,  and  they  will  tell 
you,  they  never  went  out  to  war  in  their  own  names,  but 
in  the  name  of  the  Lord  JEHOVAH:  When  they  relied 
upon  him,  and  in  meeknefs  and  fear  waited  upon  him,  he 
gave  them  power  to  overcome  ,*  and  they  were  made  con- 
querors, and  more  than  conquerors  ;  for  they  have  overcome 
thofe  enemies,  that  fometimes  overcame  them ;  and  Chrift 
hath  fixed  and  fettled  them  in  this  conqueft,  never  to  be  over- 
come more.  Here  is  both  an  outward  and  an  inward  evi- 
dence :  The  outward  evidence  will  do  you  no  good,  till 
you  come  to  lay  hold  of  the  inward  evidence  in  your  own 
hearts ;  then  the  outward  evidence  that  God  fends,  will 
be  ferviceable  to  you. 

Therefore,  my  friends,  I  tell  you  (as  I  faid  before)  no- 
thing will  fatisfy  the  foul,  but  the  virtue  and  life  that  flows 
into  it  from  the  fountain  of  life  ;  here  is  the  way  to  it. 
If  you  fhould  hear  of  a  treafury,  and  ftore  of  bread  laid 
up  for  all  that  are  willing  to  come  to  it  ;  if  you  knew  not 
the  way  to  come  to  it,  and  were  ready  to  perifh  with 
hunger,  what  a  cry  would  there  be  among  you !  If  a  man 
fhould  come  and  tell  you  where  there  is  fuch  a  treafury 
of  hread^  when  you  are  ready  to  perifh  with  hunger,  and 
tell  you  the  way  to  it  is  intricate  and  narrow,  but  that 
he  himfelf  hath  been  there,  and  that  he  can  tell  you  the 
ready  way  to  it,  and  that  he  himfelf  had  relief  and  fup- 
ply,    and  great  plenty  beftowed  upon   him,    and  that  he 

would 


^68  Christ  All  in  All. 

would  bring  you  thither,  O  how  v/elcome  would  fuch  a 
one  be  to  you  !  O  that  you  were  as  wife  in  fpiritual  things, 
and  as  much  concerned  for  your  fouls,  as  you  are  for  your 
bodies,  and  would  take  the  advice  of  Gods  minifters  !  They 
would  turn  you  to  the  light  within  ;  the  grace  of  God  in 
your  own  hearts,  which  you  are  partakers  of  j  and  fpeak- 
ing  to  you  in  the  name  of  God,  defire  you  to  follow  the 
duties  of  your  own  confciences,  and  you  will  come  quickly 
where  there  is  bread  enough.  By  that  light  withvn,  you 
will  fee  your  ftate  is  not  fo  goocl  as  you  imagined  it  was. 
This  orach  within,  is  that  which  you  muft  live  with,  and 
d\v/ell  with  ;  you  m.uft  go  home  with  it,  and  lie  down  with  it, 
and  you  muft  rife  with  it,  and  follow  the  dictates  of  it  ; 
if  you  do  fo,  before  the  week  be  out,  you  will  have  ex- 
perience to  tell  me,  if  I  fhould  come  and  ask  you,  I  have 
gvOt  more  vi(5lory  over  my  fins,  by  following  the  dictates 
of  the  light  of  the  grace  of  God  within  my  own  bo(om, 
than  by  all  my  reading,  hearing  and  praying,  and  per- 
forming other  duties. 

Make  a  trial  of  this,  and  you  will  find  the  prefence  of 
God  with  you,  and  that  he  is  a  God  at  hand,  and  not  afar 
off  y  and  if  you  buckle  on  your  fpiritual  arm.our,  the  cap- 
tain of  your  falvation  will  not  be  far  off,  but  be  prefent 
before  you. 

Therefore  keep  your  eve  unto  Jefus,  the  author  and  fi- 
nilher  of  your  faith,  and  you  will  be  able  to  do  all  th'mgs 
through  Chrift  that  ftreiigthens  you  ;  and  you  will  be  able  to 
conquer  thofe  fms  and  temptations  that  have  conquered 
you. 

May  the  law  of  the  fpirit  of  life  in  Chrift  Jefus,  break 
down  the  body. of  fm  and  death,  and  bring  you  into  the 
glorious  liberty  which  God  hath  prepared  for  his  chil- 
dren. 


SERMON 


SERMON    XXXII. 

Christians  ^zow/a'  often  think  on  the  Name 
,      of  the  LORD. 

Preached  at  Devonshire-House,  July  ly,  i%2. 

THE,  people  of  God  in  former  ages,  did  often  think 
upon  the  name  of  the  Lord :  I  v/ould  it  might  be 
the  daily  practice  of  all  that  make  profefilon  to  be 
the  people  of  God  in  oi:r  days,  to  think  often  upon  the  name 
of  the  Lord.  This  you  know  is  an  inward  exercife,  in- 
vifible  and  known  to  none  but  God  ',  he  only  knows 
when  you  are  met  together,  whether  you  are  thinking  up- 
on his  name,  whether  the  exercife  of  your  minds  is  up- 
on his  power,  or  upon  whatfoever  elfe  your  minds  are  en- 
gaged. They  whofe  exercife  c^nd  defire  is,  to  feel  God's 
power,  and  to  be  acquainted  with  his  name,  the  Lord  is 
nigh  to  them,  to  reveal  his  mighty  power,  and  his  name 
to  them,  and  they  are  a  people  that  partake  of  his  goodnefs 
and  of  his  virtue,  and  have  an  experimental  knowledge  of 
the  divers  adminiftrations  of  both  his  judgments  and  mer- 
cies to  their  own  fouls,  and  fo  they  can  proceed  from 
thinking  to  fpeaking  of  the  f^roodnefs  of  God  from  the  ex- 
perience that  they  have  in  themfelves,  that  the  Lord  is  good 
to  them. 

For  all  that  fome  do  in  their  m.anner  of  fpeaking  of 
God  and  his  goodnefs,  and  crying  up  the  name  of  the 
Lord,  it  is  all  worth  nothing,  it  is  buc  noife  :  But  every 
one  that  partakes  in  his  ov/n  foul  of  fomething  of  the 
divine  virtue  and  goodnefs  that  ilows  from  God  invifibly 
to  hi.m  through  Jefus  Chrift,  he  hath  alfurance  in  himfelf 
that  he  fpeaks  the  truth  :  It  is  not  meer  wprds,  made  ready 
to  his  hand,  but  it  is  his  o^n  knowledge  and  experience 
of  that  which  God  hath  wrought  in  him  by  his  own  Spirit ; 
there  are  none  that  think  upon  the  name  of  the  Lord,  and 
his  power,  and  the  working  of  it,  but  they  are  able  to 
fpeak  of  it  effedualiy  and  truly. 

3  a'  I 


S/0  Christians^  JJiouId  often  think 

I  know  it  hath  been,  and  is  the  pra(flice  among  many, 
that  they  are  able  to  fpeak  of  God's  gopdnefs  from  what 
^hey  find  in  the  writings  and  fayings  of  fome  that  Jived 
before  them,  that  did  bear  an  honourable  teftimony  of  God's 
goodnefs  in  their  religion  ;  and  th'ey  learn  to  fay  it  over 
again  in  their  particular  age  :  But  u-hat  hath  this  tale  that 
they  have  told,  wrought  ?  This  report  they  have  m.ade, ' 
how  God  was  with'  the  Chridians  of  old,  the  primitive 
Chriftians  and  martyrs ,'  they  have  told  a  tale  of  thefe  things, 
and  what  hath  it  effeded  ?  It  hath  either  brought  forth 
Chriftians,  or  it  hath  not. 

The  way  for  people  to  be  grounded  and  fettled  in 
divine  knowledge,  is  for  every  one  to  fpeak  what  they 
know  :  And  if  they  know  nothing  of  thele  things,  to 
fay  nothing  of  them.  And  the  way  for  them  to  come 
to  receive  divine  knowledge,  is,  by  thinking,  by  meditat- 
ing, by  confidering  of  that  converfe  that  God  hath  with 
tlieir  own  fouls  ;  for  there  is  a  way  provided  for  all  men 
to  converfe  with  God  that  made  them  :  Every  man  and 
woman  may  ask  queftions  of  him,  and  may  have  anfwers 
from  him,  if  they  have  patience  enough  to  wait  for  them  ; 
every  foul  here  prefent,  that  with  ferioufnefs  of  mind  fhall 
ask  of  God  what  their  ftate  and  condition  is,  if  they 
were  to  die  prefently,  God  will  tell  them,  he  will  an- 
iwer  them  ;  he  will  fhine  unto  them  by  the  light  of  his 
Son  Jefus  Chrifl,  and  let  them  know  whether  they  are  in 
the  gall  of  bittcrnefsy  and  in  the  bonds  of  their  iniquity  ftill, 
or  whether  they  are  redeemed  out  of  it,  and  brought  into 
covenant  with  himfelf :  But  will  you  believe  his  anfwer  ? 
I  would  have  no  man  go  about  to  ask  fuch  a  queftion 
of  God  unlefs  he  hath  a  mind  to  believe  the  anfwer  that 
God  giveth  him.  •  To  what  purpofe  fhould  men  ask,  if 
they  ask  amifs  ?  If  they  ask  without  faith,  they  do  not 
believe  except  the  anfwer  pleafe  them. 

Many,  in  our  days,  have  put  up  their  petitions  and  pray- 
ers to  God,  that  he  would  difcover  to  them  the  ftate  and 
condition  of  their  fouls  :  The  Lord  hath  anfwered  them, 
and  notv/ithftanding  all  the  profefiion  that  they  have  made 
of  his  name,  and  of  their  faith  in  his  Son  Jefus  Chrift, 
and  of  the  work  of  redemption,  yet  he  hath  often  declared 

thou 


on  the  Name  of  the  LORD,  ,    j^i 

thou  art  ftill  unredeemed,  thou  art  ftill  in  thy  fin,  and 
lufts,  and  concupifcence  prevail  over  thee  j  thou  art  flill  in 
bondage.  This  is  God's  anfwer  to  many  ;  but  there  is 
fomething  arifeth  in  their  minds,  that  they  are  not  wil- 
ling to  believe  this  ;  I  would  think  better  of  myfelf  than 
this  :  What  if  thou  doft  think  better  of  thyfelf  ?  Thou 
art  never  the  better,  for  the  word  of  the  Lord  ftands  fure. 
There  is  no  removing  of  it  ;  there  is  no  denial  of  the 
truth.  If  this  truth  condemn  thee,  all  the  world  cannot 
juftify  thee  ;  and  this  truth  by  which  God  condem^ns  the 
iinner  is  in  the  Tinner's  own  heart  :  \^hat  will  he  do  with 
it  ?  It  is  in  the  finner's  confcience  ;  it  doth  not  only  con- 
demn him  by  book,  out  of  this  chapter  and  that  verfe, 
out  of  this  author  and  the  other  author,  but  he  is  con- 
demned by  God's  true  and  faithful  witnefs,  in  his  ow;i 
confcience.  Thou  wilt  not  believe  it  ;  but  if  thou  be- 
lieved not  this,  then  thou  remained  in  thy  unbelief  of  the 
truth  j  and  nothing  clfe  but  believing  it  can  fave  thee  ; 
no  counfei  elfe  can   deliver  or  redeem  thee. 

So  that  the  bed  advice  and  counfei  that  I  can  give  a 
people  in  this  cafe,  is  this  ;  that  when  they  xome  to  fuch 
a  reUgious  meeting  as  this  is,  they  would  come  with  a  mind 
prepared  and  fitted  to  think  upon  the  Lord  ;  to  think  up- 
on his  name,  and  the  way  by  which  he  brings  people  to 
himfelf ;  for  no  man  can  be  called  a  child  of  God,  that 
doth  not  partake  of  his  nature.  If  a  man  be  ever  fo  wife, 
and  rich,  and  great  in  the  world  ;  if  he  be  a  prince  or  an 
emperor,  without  this  he  is  2i  child  of  vjrath.  Now  if  thefe 
children  of  wrath  meet  with  fomething  that  convinceth  them  ; 
if  they  are  touched  and  become  a  fenfible  people,  then 
crowns  and  diadems  are  nothing  to  them.  Such  a  one  will 
fay,  if  I  be  a  child  of  vorath^  a  captive  to  fin  and  my  own 
lufts  and  concupifcence,  yet  for  all  that  I  will  go  to  a 
religious  meeting,  where  I  hope  the  word  of  God  will  be 
preached  ;  I  hope  to  meet  with  fomething  there  that  will 
do  me  good  ;  and  I  have  a  defire  that  I  may  be  tranf- 
lated  out  of  a  natural  ftate,  from  being  a  child  of  ivrath^ 
to  be  brought  i7tto  the  kingdom  of  God,  If  I  have  this  de- 
fire  in  me,  God  that  made  me,  wrought  it  in  me  j  for  by 
nature  we  cannot  fo  much  as  think  a  good  thought,     When 

men 


^^2  Christians  /Iiadd  often  thwk 

men  think  of  being  better,  and  of  amending  their  ways, 
and  doing  their  ioujs  good,  thefe  are  very  good  thoughts 
in  themfelves.  "^hen  fuch  thoughts  are  begotten  in'  any 
men's  hearts,  I  would  have  them  to  afcribe  them  to  the 
grace  of  God,  and  nothing  cile.  Preachers  may  do  much 
where  thefe  dcfires  are  begotten  ',  but  it  is  not  in  their 
po\y  cr   to   beget  thefe  defires. 

Many  have  come  to  a  meeting  with  loofe,  p^'ophane  and 
wandering  minds  ;  and  though  many  good  things  have  been 
fpoken  to  them,  it  hath  not  reached  fo  far  as  to  beget 
good  defires,  their  hearts  have  been  fo  ahenated  from-  the 
grace  of  God  in  themfelves,  which  is  the  great  fuperior 
worker,  to  which  we  are  but  fervants  and  minillers  ;  there 
is  none  can  beget  any  thing,  but  he  in  whom  all  power 
is.  They  that  are  under  the  power  of  darknefs,  the  de- 
vil beeets  in  them  wantonnefs  and  vanity,  prophanenefs 
and  hardnefs  of  heart.  Some  go  away  from  a  meeting 
without  being  touched  and  perfuaded,  and  they  have  dq 
good  hope  of  being  better  :  But  where  people  are  really 
touched  in  their  fpirits,  with  a  deiire  after  fomething  that 
will  do  them  good,  they  muft  come  to  the  fountain  of  good, 
the  God  tliat  made  them,  and  they  muft  think  upon  him  j  if 
they  cannot  fee  his  glory ^  a??d  hear  his  voice,  yet  they  can 
think  upon  him.  This  is  the  leaft  duty  of  a  Chriftian, 
to  think  npofi  the  nnrne  of  the  Lord,  when  their  minds 
are  exercifed  about  divine  matters,  about  the  flate  and  conr- 
dition  of  their  poor  iouls.  If  I  die  this  night,  what  will 
become  of  me.  ?  This  and  that  fm  I  have  committed ;  how 
ihall  I  be  able  to  anfx^^er  to  God  for  one  of  a  thoufand 
of  all  m,y  loofe  thoughts,  words  and  aclions  ?  Tbey  that 
come  to  a  confideration  of  this,  aaid  a  due  fenfe  of  their 
frate  and  condition,  though  it  is  fuch  a  Irate  that  they  do 
not  like  ',  though  it  is  not  fuch  as  it  ought  to  be,  yet 
notwithftanding  it  may  be  better  ;  they  may  be  brought 
out  of  it  into  a  better  condition. 

Now  this  is  the  duty  of  all,  to  wait  upon  God,  the  foun- 
tain of  all  eood,  that  thev  mav  receive  fomethine  from 
Gc?d,  for  £-jcry  good  and  perfcB  gift  comes  from  above, 
from  tJie  Father  of  li^'hts,  the  Father  of  thy  light  aiid  my 
light,  that  light  comes  to  iis  from  the  Father  of  lights  :  If 

"we 


on  the  Name  of  the  LORD,  .     ^y^ 

we  have  any  perfed  gift  beftowed  upon  us,  it  is  beftowed 
by  God  j  therefore  you  will  grant  that  we  are  all  obii«:ed, 
from  the  greateft  to  the  leaft,  to  wait  upon  him,  if  v/e 
have  the  leaft  expedation  from  God,  by  meeting,  otherwife 
we  had  better  keep  away. 

But  I  am  apt  to  judge  that  the  moft  here  are  come  with 
fome  defire,  that  if  it  pleafe  God  they  may  receive  benefit 
by  their  meeting :  •  Where  Ihali  they  have  it  t  They  fay,  if 
fuch  a  man  prcacheth,  then  I  can  edify  much  by  him  :  This 
is  a  great  miftake  ',  for,  let  who  will  preach,  there  is  nobody 
can  receive  any  benefii:,  but  it  muft  be  from  the  Lord,  as 
the  fountain  of  good  ;  for  the  bed  preachers  in  the  world 
are  but  inftruments  in  the  hands  of  God  j  if  God  doth 
not  blefs  his  labours,  the  preacher  can  do  nothing  to  the 
fouls  of  people  ;  he  can  found  the  truth  in  their  ears  out- 
wardly, but  he  can  reach  no  further,  God.  only  fpeaks  to 
the  heart.  If  thou  mind  the  preacher  a«d  not  God  that 
made  thee,  all  his  preaching  will  do  thee  no  good  y  it  may 
indeed  help  thee  to  s.  notion  or  fpeculation,  but  that  comes 
not  to  the  infide,,  that  will  be  no  better,  the  iniide  wants 
mending. 

There  are  great  deformities,  fears,  fpots,  fcaiiis,  ^x/oun4s 
and  l^mcnefs  upon  the  fouls  of  men,  by  reafon  of  their 
fins,  lulls  and  corruptions  j  and  there  wants  a  remedy,  and 
there  is  no  .phyfician  of  value  but  God  that  made  us  after 
his  own  image.  The  devil  hath  brought  in  deformity, 
he  hath  made  one  proud,  another  cruel,  another  wanton, 
.another  an  oppreflor,  another  malicious  |  this  is  all  the 
devil's  work  :  And  for  this  end  Chrifl  Jefus  came  into  the 
ivorldy  that  he  might  deflroy  the  ivarks  of  the  deviL  He 
came  to  deftroy  pride,  malice  and  luft  ,*  there  are  the  iievil's 
works,  that  Chrift  came  to  deftroy :  Why  doth  he  not  do 
it  ?  He  will  deftroy  all  th-e  devil  hath  wrought  in  cverv 
man  that  will  be  fubjed  to  him:  Can  a  chirurgeon  fet  a 
bone,   if  the  patient  be  not  fubjetl:  to  liis  hand  i 

But  -this  is  far  beyond  all  comparifanj  Chrift  hath  re- 
cei'ued  all  poiver  in  Heaiepi  and  Karth,  yet  he  always  looks 
for  a  willing  people  j  he  fends  the  day  of  his  power  up- 
on a  people,  and  he  workethupon  their  hearts  by  an  invin- 
cible power  j  he  makes  them  wilUng  to  be  helped,  and 
:  .  •  mended, 


j^4  Christians  fliould  often  think 

mended,  and  healed,  and  cured,  and  then  he  cures  them. 
I  dare  fay,  there  is  not  one  here  that  is  willing  to  be  re- 
formed, and  to  fubmit  to  Chriiu  to  be  faved  and  redeemed 
by  him,  but  he  will  do  it  ;  he  that  is  ivilling  and_obedtenty 
(liall  eat  of  the  good  of  the  land,  and  ihall  know  the  good 
of  redemption.  See  whether  it  be  come  to  a  ftate  of  re- 
demption ;  here  is  univerfal  grace  offered  j  for  the  light 
of  Chrtfl  Jefus  enlighteneth  every  cfie  of  'you  ',  it  fhews  you 
your  loft  ftate  and  condition  :  "^^^hen  we  fee  our  condition 
bad,  that  it  is  not  as  it  ought  to  be,  who  would  not  have 
it  better  ? 

\Fhat  means  prayer,  that  Chriftian  duty  ?  What  fhall  we 
pray  for?  Muft  not  people  be  fenfible  in  themfelves  what 
they  iliould  pray  for,  before  they  come  to  pray  ?  And  what 
is  it  that  will  make  them  fenfible  but  the  light  and  grace 
of  God  ?  They  fee  their  own  wants  when  God  worketh 
faith  in  their  hearts,  and  they  believe  that  God  can  fupply 
thofe  wants.  Why  fhould  I  go  to  a  beggar,  to  pray  him 
to  give  me  an  hundred  pounds  ?  I  bjlieve  he  cannot  do  it, 
therefore  I  will  not  pray  to  him  for  it :  Now  necefilty  brings 
people  to  prayer,  but  there  muft  be  faith  in  him  to  whom 
we  pray,  that  he  is  able  to  fupply  our  wants,  and  relieve 
our  neceffities.  Upon  this  account  the  apoftle  fai<:h,  he^ 
that  Cometh  to  God  muft  believe  that  he  is,  and  that  he  is 
a  rewarder  of  them  that  diligently  feek  him.  .He  muft  firft 
know  that  there  is  a  God  to  come  unto,  and  then  that  he 
is  a  rewarder. 

Here  is  the  foundation  of  all  true  religion  and  true  wor- 
fhipj  they  that  goto  God  and  fay  their  prayers,  and  join 
with  others  in  faying  their  prayers,  if  they  have  no  fenfe 
of  God,  they  had  as  good  hold  their  tongues,  for  their  pray- 
ing is  to  no  purpofe :  They  that  pretend  to  believe  in  God, 
without  an  experimental  power  of  God  working  upon  their 
hearts,  their  belief  is  not  worth  a  ftraw ;  without  their  re- 
fped  to  the  power  of  God,  all  their  belief  is  nothing ;  but 
if  they  know  that  God  hath  fuch  an  operation  upon  them, 
that  no  man  or  woman  in  the  world  can  difcover  that  to 
them,  that  God  difcovereth,  then  they  knov/  that  God 
is  the  fearcher   of  hearts  and  the   trier   of  the  reins^    Jere- 

Suppofe 


on  the  Name  of  the  LORD.  j^^ 

Suppofe  I  know  that  there  is  a  God,  and  at  the  fame 
time  I  believe  that  he  will  never  hear  me  ;  that  I  am  a  re- 
probate creature,  and  that  he  kith  caft  me  off  forever,  and 
that  he  hath  fealcd  condemnation  upon  me,  to  all  eternity. 
"V^hat  reafon  hath  fuch  a  one  to  pray  ?  This  is  a  defperate 
condition.  But  while  we  believe  there  is  a  God,  and  that 
he  is  a  rewarder  of  them  that  diligently  feek  him,  it  is  not 
in  vain  to  prayj  yet  there  is  fomething  antecedent  too  to 
prayer ;  there  is  knowledge,  and  faith  by  reafon  of  that  know- 
ledge, that  God  is  a  rev/arder:  He  that  hath  this,  let  him 
pray  in  God's  name.  But  what  muft  he  pray  for  ?  He 
muft  not  ojfer  the  facrlfice  of  fools  ;  he  muft  have  regard  to 
his  lips ;  if  it  be  mental  prayer,  he  muft  pray  for  that  he 
ftands  in  need.of  j  it  is  for  fomething  he  prays,  that  God 
hath  revealed  by  his  Holy  Spirit ,  this  he  ftands  in  need 
of;  it  is  fomething  that  he  needs ;  it  is  power  to  over- 
come cd^Kiption,  and  power  to  overcome  temptation, 
that  he  ftands  in  need  of;  he  ftands  in  need  of  a  Mediator 
to  procure  for  him  the  pardon  of  his  fins  :  Thefe  things  he 
ftands  in  need  of,  then  let  him  pray ;  he  that  is  affiicied^ 
let  htm  pray. 

So  that  if  a  man  or  woman  go  to  prayer,  they  muft 
pray  to  God,  in  the  belief  of  his  goodnefs  and  mercy, 
that  he  will  beftow  fome  blefling  upon  them,  that  may 
be  for  the  better,  that  may  be  for  their  good.  When 
they  come  to  a  meeting,  to  worihip  God,  and  hear  the 
word  fpoken  outwardly,  they  muft  pray  for  fomething 
that  may  be  for  their  good  ;  Lord  give  me  fomething  that 
may  fupport  my  foul,  and  fomething  that  may  enable  me 
to  withftand  temptation.  People  (hould  have  their  minds  thus 
exercifed,  and  they  ftiould  think  upon  the  name  of  the  Lord 
according  to  their  particular  neceffity  ;  they  fhould  pour 
out  their  fupplication  to  the  Lord  :  This  is  fuch  woriliip 
as  God  looks  for,  and  fuch  as  he  is  pleafed  with  ;  -he 
^'ill  deliver  thofe  that  thus  pray  to  him  out  of  temptati- 
ons, fo  that  they  fhall  not  prevail  over  them  :  One  man's 
temptation  is  of  one  fort,  and  another's  of  another  fort  , 
but  they  are  all  dehvered  by  the  grace  of  God,  and  help- 
ed over  them,  upon  their  prayer  to  God  ',  for- they  find 
by  experience  that  he  is  a  God  hearing  sprayers. 

Now 


^yG  Christians  Jliould  often  think 

Now,  wh'en  we  have  prayed,  what  is  the  next  work  ? 
It  is  to  wait  for  an  anfwer  of  our  prayer.  I  prayed  the 
other  day  to  God  for  power  to  withftand  fuch  a  tempta- 
tion ;  when  that  temptation  comes  again  I  do  exped  that 
God  w.ll  anfwer  m.y  prayer.  Doft  thou  fo  ?  Then  I  pray 
thee  have  an  eye  to  the  fame  grace  of  God  that  convinc- 
ed thee,  and  lliewed  thee  the  temptation  j  and  have  thy 
fciith  exerciled  upon  that  grace  of  God,  and  thou  wilt  find 
it  fufficient  for  thee,  I  will  v/arrant  thee  :  Let  the  devil 
come  with  a  temptation  ever  fo  fuitable  and  fubtil,  keep 
thine  eye  upon  the  grace  of  God,  and  it  will  dehver  thee. 
This  was  the  cafe  of  Paul ;  when  a  mejjhiger  of  fatatt  was 
fent  to  baifet  hhu^  he  befoitght  the  Lord  thrice  :  The  temp- 
tation did  attend  him,  and  God  gave  him  an  anfwer  of 
his  prayer  ;  'iriy  grace  is  fufficiejit  for  thee.  As  if  he  had 
faid,  let  the  devil  come  with  ever  fo  much  power  he  fhail 
never  overcom.e  thee. 

I  fpeak  to  thofe  that  are  well  skilled  in  this  kind  of  work, 
and  have  met  with  fliarp  tem.ptations,  and  fometimes  per- 
haps they  have  been  overcome  by  them,  and  at  other  times 
they  have  withftood  them  :  "^^hat  is  the  difiPerence  '■,  why, 
one  while  they  are  loofe  and  carelefs,  and  did  not  pray  for 
the  affiftance  of  divine  grace  ;  another  while  they  kept 
ciofe  to  it,   and  were   delivered. 

Therefore  when  vou  come  to  meeting,  with  a  deflre  to 
receive  benefit  from  God,  with  your  expedations  God- 
ward,  to  receive  comfort  from  the  hands  of  the  Lord, 
let  your  eye  be  upon  him,  and  the  working  of  his  grace  in 
your  own  hearts,  and  hearken  to  that  voice  that  is  within 
you,  and  it  will  be  more  efFedual  than  mine.  If  you 
find  the  work  of  grace  in  you  to  be  the  fame  thing  that  I 
fpeak  of,  then  believe  iTie  for  the  truth's-fake  ;  believe  me 
bccaufe  you  find  the  fame  work  and  teftimony  within  your- 
felves.  And  I  am  perfuaded  there  is  no  one  here,  but 
fometime  or  other  have  withftood  that  temptation  whicia 
they  have  met  withal.  Fray  tell  me  how  they  did  it  ? 
V7hy,  the  temptation  came  unto  me,  and  it  picafed  God 
to  Ihew  m.e  the  evil  of  it,  that  it  was  a  bad  thing  if  I 
yielded  to  it.  How  didd:  thou  refid;  it?  had  not  the  devil 
a   coercive   power  over  thee,  to  force  thee  to   it,  whether 

thou 


on  the  Name  of  the  LORI>.  j>7 

thou  wouldeft  or  not  ?  That  God  that  (hewed  me  the  evil- 
of  it,  delivered  me  from  the  evil  ;  I  was  not  judged  and 
condemned  in  myfelf,  becaufe  I  found  myfelf  delivered 
from  it  ;  there  are  none  of  you,  if  you  would  not  be  lazy 
and  idle,  but  you  might  be  delivered  every  day,  and  have 
experience  in  your  own  fouls,  that  when  the  devil  comes 
and  tempts,  the  Lord  is  at  hand  to  deliver  you  by  his 
grace  and  power. 

So  that  the  only  way  for  people  to  be  preferved  from 
fin  and  iniquity,  is  to  have  a  reverent  refped  to  that  grace 
of  God  which  they  have  already  received.  I  would  have 
that  vain  conceit,  that  hath  long  reigned  in  the  v/orld,  taken 
out  of  your  head.  W^hen  you  fee  a  wicked  husband,  wife, 
or  child,  you  fay,  if  they  had  grace  they  would  be  bet- 
ter ',  I  fay  they  have  fome  degree  of  grace  already  ;  God 
hath  fent  forth  his  grace  and  truth,  to  teack  men  to  deny 
ungodliness^  fo  that  I  would  not  pray  that  God  would 
give  my  husband,  wife,  or  child,  or  friend  grace,  but  that 
he  would  break  their  hard  hearts,  that  they  may  fubmiit  ta 
the  grace  of  God  that  is  already  bcftowed  upon  them.  I  be- 
lieve there  is  not  a  perfon  here  that  is  utterly  void  of  ali 
grace  ;  but  they  walk  not  according  to  it,  they  trample 
upon  it  :  For  every  one  being  endued  with  a  meaiure  of 
grace,  through  Chrift,  our  duty  therefore  is  to  have  a  re- 
verential regard  to  the  grace  of  God,  that  we  have  received. 

What  grace  have  I  received  from  God,  may  fome  fay  ? 
I  have  received  fo  mxuch  grace  from  God  (thou  mayeft 
truly  fay)  that  I  can  tell  when  the  devil  brings  a  tempta- 
tion to  me  'y  when  he  tempts  me  to  uncleannefs,  theft, 
wrath,  malice,  or  to  deceive  my  neighbour,  I  have  fo  much 
grace  that  I  can  tell  I  am  tempted  in  fuch  a  refpect;  the 
grace  of  God  {hews  me  this  is  a  temptation  of  the  devil : 
But  the  queftion  is,  whether  I  am  fubjed  to  the  grace  of 
God,  and  love  his  grace  better  than  the  profit  or  pleafure 
of  a  temptation  ?  It  comes  as  a  bait,  but  the  devil  cannot 
miake  me  do  that  which  he  tempts  me  to  ;  it  is  not  in  the 
power  of  all  the  devils  in  hell,  or  of  his  fcrvants  on  earth, 
to  make  me  do  this  evil  thing ;  The  light  of  my  o-wn  con- 
fcience  fhev/s  it  to  be  a  temptation.  Nov/  I  am  free  and 
at  my  choice,  whether  I  will  love  the  profit  and  pleafure 

3  B  ,^  that 


S73  Christians  fhotdd  often  think 

aiat  comes  with  the  temptation  more  than  the  grace  of 
God  :  I  believe  there  is  no  one  that  hath  been  tried  by  a 
temptation,  but  they  can  fay  To  :  I  leave  it  to  him  that 
fearclies  and  tries  all  your  hearts^  a7id  knows  your  thoughts, 
to  judge  whether  you  joined  with  the  temptation,  that 
you  might  have  the  profit  and  pleafure  of  it,  or  joined  with 
liis  grace,  that  thereby  you  mjght  have  refift<;d  the  temptation|: 
You  that  have  done  the  one  and  the  other,  tell  me  which 
is  the  bed  bargain  ;  when  vou  have  joined  with  the 
temptation,  that  yo'u  might  have  the  profit  and  pleafure 
that  cam.e  along  with  it ;  or  when  you  joined  with  the 
grace  of  God^  that  Ibewed  you  die  evil  and  danger  of 
ihe  temptation.  The  fame  God  fpeaks  to  you  that  fpake 
to  Cai'f?.,  if  thou  doeft  v:ell,  /halt  not  thou  be  accepted  ?  and 
if  thou  deft  not  ivell^  fin  lies  at  the  door.  If  thou  haft  yield- 
ed to  a  temptation^  fin  lies  at  the  door^  there  is  a  breach 
made    between    God  and  thy   foul. 

The  fame  man  at  another  time,  having  fmarted  fo  deeply 
for  it,  being  judged  by  his  own  confcience,  when  he  meets 
the  temptation  again,  he  faith,  let  the  profit  or  pleafure 
^o  where  it  will,  if  I  yield  to  this  temptation  I  cannot 
go  to  God  but  as  a  criminal  to  a  judge  j  let  the  profit  or 
pleafure  be  what  it  will,  I  will  not  join  with  this  temp- 
tation. Can  the  devil  force  thee  to  comply  with  this 
temptation  ?  No,  if  thou  be  true  to  the  grace  of  God  in 
thy  own  heart,  it  will  make  thee  able  to  refift  the  (Irongeft 
dcvii  in  hell.  Chrift  hath  purchafed  for  the  fons  and  daugh- 
ters of  men  a  power  to  withftand  the  deviTs  power,  and 
ail  his  devices  and  temptations,  and  you  (hail  obtain  vic- 
tory, and  have  dominion  over  them.  If  you  have  a  mind 
to  grow  in  this  dominion,  when  the  devil  comes  to  tempt 
vou,  rcfift  him,  and  you  Ihall,  through  the  power  of  Chrift, 
be  enabled  to  overcome. 

If  fatan  tell  thee  of  the  profits  and  pleafures  of  this 
world,  remember  that  the  world  paffeth  aivay,  and  the  Uift 
of  it,  but  peace  with  God  endures  forever:  By  the  grace 
of  God  you  will  be  able  to  overcome  the  devil  and  all  his 
angels.  This  power  is  given  to  all  that  believe  and  obey 
the  gofpel :  If  vou  would  have  benefit  by  it,  you  muft  be 
exercifed  in  refifting  of  temptation,  and  have  regard  to  the 


grace 


m  the  Name  of  the  LORD.  ^X9 

g^rac^  of  God,  and  the  workings  of  it  in  your  o^^n  hearts  ; 
and  then  you  \x^iil  be  able  to  fay,  when  a  temptation  comes, 
promifing  profit  and  pleafure,  hoiv  can  I  do  this  great 
wickedn^fsy  and  Jin  againjl  God  ?  Turn  your  eye  to  God's 
favour^  ivJuch  is  better  than  life^  and  you  will  he  more 
tlian  conquerors  ;  you  will  fay  the  fear  of  God  feized 
upon  my  foul,  and  the  grace  of  God  came  to  my  affiftance, 
and  was  as  a  bulwark  againft  temptation.  Here  praifes  will 
go  up  to  Godj  here  will  be  occafion  for  thee  to  fpeak 
good  of  his  name.  Remember  what  David  faid ',  my  fculy 
fraife  the  Lord,  that  hath  delivered  me  from  the  horrible  pit. 
Thus  David  and  the  faints  of  old  praifed  God  in  their 
day,  and  why  fhould  not  we?  They  breathed  forth  living 
praifes  and  thankfgivings  for  the  deliverances  wrought  for 
them  y  and  (hall  not  we  do  it  ? 

Now  this  cannot  be  done  without  thinking  upon  his 
name,  the  name  of  that  God  that  made  us  :  Here  I  live 
in  the  world,  I  live  and  breathe  ftill,  I  have  health,  and 
ftrength,  and  an  eftate,  how  came  I  by  all  this  ?  Did  I 
make  myfelf  ?  No,  there  is  a  God  that  gave  me  life, 
a."d  breath,  and  being  ;  he  holds  forth  the  hand  of  mer- 
cy to  gather  me  to  himfelf,  and  to  redeem  ?ne  from  all  in- 
iquity,  that  I  might  ferve  him  -without  fear,  in  holinefs  and 
righteoufnefsy  all  the  days  of  my  life  :  If  I  believe  this, 
I  fhall  rejoice  in  him,  and  love  and  praife  him,  and  dai- 
ly wait  upon  him  for  the  accomplifhment  of  his  work. 
He  defireth  not  the  death  of  ftnners  :  If  you  believe  the 
Almighty,  it  is  impojftble  for  him  to  lie,  all  things  are 
pojfible  to  him  except  that ;  he  faith,  he  would  not  the  deatk 
of  him  that  dies  :  What  would  he  have  then  ?  He  would 
have  you  mm  and  live  :  What  means  doth  he  ufe  ?  What  I 
would  have  done  I  would  ufe  means  to  accomplifh  it.  You 
would  fay,  what  means  hath  he  not  ufed  ?  What  is  it  that 
God  doth  more  wiih  for  than  that  men  would  repent,  return 
and  live,  and  be  happy  forever  ?  He  hath  created  them, 
and  given  them  life  and  breath,  and  continued  his  grace 
to  them,  that  they  might  have  time  to  prepare  for  eter- 
nity ;  and  he  hath  given  his  good  fpirit  to  inftrud  them, 
but  they  have  rebelled  againfi  h'wi.  He  hath  fent  forth 
his  word,  the  gofpel  of  iaivation,  which  hath  been  preach- 
ed 


S^o  Christians  fnouU  oftm  think 

ed  to  them  ',  and  he  hath  vjaited  to  be  graciouSy  a?id  ex-er-^ 
ctfed  much  patience  and  long-fujfering  towards  them  j  fo 
that  I  may  fay,  what  means  hath  he  omitted  ?  He  hath 
planted  them  as  a  vineyard,  in  a  very  fruitful  hill  ;  and 
he  hath  fenced  it,  and  gathered  out  the  Jlones  thereof,  and 
planted  it  voith  the  chotceft  vine,  and  built  a  tower  in  thf 
midjl  of  it,  and  made  a  wine-prefs  therein,  and  he  looked 
that  it  piould  bring  forth  grapes,  and  it  brought  wild  grapes. 
Judge,  I  pray  you  faith  the  Lord,  betiveen  me  and  my  vine- 
yard :  What  could  have  been  done  more  to  my  vineyard^ 
that  I  have  not  done  in  it  ? 

But  notwithftanding  all  your  unfiTntfuhiefs,  the  day  of 
your  vifitation  is  continued,  the  Lord  is  wilUng  to  Ihew 
mercy  to  your  fouls.  This  is  all  the  Lord  your  God  re- 
quires of  you,  that  you  would  think  upon  his  name,  be- 
lieve in  him  and  truft  in  him,  and  wait  upon  him  for 
the  operations  of  his^  grace  in  the  ufe  of  his  ordinances, 
and  your  attendance  upon  them,  and  hearkening  to  his  voice, 
and   obeying  it,   and    fo   to    hear  that  your  fouls  may  live. 

I  will  affirm,  that  there  is  none  of  yoii  here  pr-efent, 
whether  you  be  Quakers  or  no,  but  you  may  meet  >^,ich 
the  divine  operations  of  the  power  of  God  in  your  own 
hearts,  if  you  will  regard  it,  and  when  you  meet  with  thefe 
operations  and  regard  them  not,  I  cannot  help  it ;  if  you  will 
refill:  the  good  things  of  the  Spirit  of  God,  I  cannot  hclp.it  ; 
if  you  will  be  of  that  mind,  always  to  refifl  the  Holy  Ghojl ;  if 
as  your  fathers  dtd  fo  do  ye,  then  you  muft  all  periih, 
both  you  and  your  fathers  j  there  is  no  efcaping  but  by  be- 
ing fubject  to  Chrift  Jefus,  and  his  quickening  Spirit;  if 
there  be  any  divine  operations  that  you  meet  with  in  your 
o\v/n  hearts,  let  me  perfuade  you  to  fubmit  and  have  re- 
gard to  them  ;  for  I  know  the  devil  is  near  at  hand  rand 
^yhcn  people  meet  with  divine  operations  in  their  fouls,  that 
humble  them  and  bring  down  their  pride,  and  convince 
them  of  the  danger  of  their  condition,  he  lies  in  the  way 
and  fuggefcs  fome  poifonous  thing  that  takes  off  the  edge 
of  thefe  operations,  that  they  may  difiike  them  :  It  is  true, 
they  meet  with  the  convidions  of  lin  ;  but  they  reckon 
they  have  that  fiith  and  belief  in  Chrift,  that  doth  in  the 
fight  cf  God   obUterate  all  their  fins  that   can  be   laid  to 

their 


pn  the  Name  x>f  th  LORD.  ^8t 

their  charge,  both  paft  and  to  come.  If  I  would  look, 
fay  they,  to  the  divine  operation,  or  any  thing  wrought 
*in  me,  it  were  enough  to  make  me  mad ;  I  look  wholly  to 
the  merits  of  Chrift  ;  my  mind  is  wholly  fixed  upon  him  who 
is  the  author  of  eternal  falvation  ;  his  meritorious  fufFerings 
and  obedience  can  obliterate  and  blot  out  all  mv  fins. 

My  friends,  I  tell  you,  many  a  poor  foul  hath  Iplit  uport 
this  rock  by  undervaluing  the  divine  operations  of  the  Spirit 
upon  their  hearts  ;  they  make  a  falfe  and  wrong  applica- 
tion of  the  merits  of  Chrift,  which  indeed  are  fo  great  that 
nobody  can  overvalue  them ;  but  we  muft  not  make  a 
falfe  application  of  them,  for  this  purpofe  ivas  the  Son  of 
God  majiifefiedy  that  he  might  deflroy  the  works  of  tks 
devil  ;  h^  takes  away  the  .guilt  of  fin,  not  that  you  might 
live  in  it  flill  :  Whofoever  believerh  in  Chrifl,  fhall  have 
power  over  their  fms  and  not  be  under  the  dominion  and 
power  of  fin  ',  fin  faall  not  have  dominion  over  you  ;  for 
you  are  not  under  the  law,  but  under  grace.  But  God  be 
thanked,  you  were  the  fervants  of  Jin  ;  tho*  you  have  obeyed 
frotn  the  hearty  the  form  of  doctrine  vohich  was  delivered 
you  :  Being  then  made  free  from  fin,  ye  became  the  fervants 
of  righteoufnefs,  Rom.  vi,   14,    18. 

But  thou  wilt  fay,  I  am  guilty  of  a  great  deal  of  fin  already, 
what  fhall   become  of  me  for  the  guilt  I  have  contraded  ? 

If  we  confefs  and  forfake  our  fins,  he  is  faithful  and 
)uji  to  forgive  us  our  fins,  and  to  cleanfe  us  from  all  un- 
righteoufnefs  ;  and  the  blood  of  Jefus  Chrift  his  Son  clean- 
feth  us  from  all  fit n  ;  i  John,  ix,  9.  Here  is  a  true  appli- 
cation  of  Chrift,  his  merits  and  righteoufnefs  j  when  there 
is  a  confefTing  of  fm  to  God,  and  a  forfaking  of  it,  here 
is  an  offering  and  a  facriiice  made  to  God  by  our  Lord 
Jefus  Chrift  for  the  expiation  of  fin  ;  he  hath  by  his  pre- 
cious blood  purchafed  the  pardon  of  all  my  fins,  that  he 
might  prefent  me  to  God  without  fpot  or  ble7nifh  ;  here  is 
a  true  application  of  the  righteoufnefs  of  Chrift  ',  but  how 
can  I   apply   it  to  myfelf  while  I   live  in  fin  ? 

Here  God's  witnefs  in  the  confcience  of  a  finner  pleads 
againft  the  finner  j  when  he  endeavours  to  believe  that  his  guilt 
is  taken  away,  and  all  his  fins,  paft,  prefent  and  to  come, 
are  pardoned,  while  he  continues  to  live  in  fin,  and  fin 
hath  vet  dominion  over  him.  Take 


^82  Christians  fiould  often  think,  Sec, 

Take  heed  you  fplit  not  upon  this  rock  ;  it  you  be 
humble  Chriftians,  you  will  t/ilnk  upbn  the  name  of  the 
Lord;  and  when  ye  find  the  operation  of  God's  power 
begetting  good  defires  in  you  to  hate  fin  and  love  righ- 
teoufnefs,  you  will  then  believe  ;  you  will  then  pray  to 
the  God  of  all  grace ;  for  the  prayer  of  the  faithful  is 
acceptable  to  him  :  The  effeBual  fervent  prayer  of  a  righte- 
ous wan  avails   much,  James  v,   i6. 

Let  your  fupplication  therefore  be  poured  forth  unto 
God,  to  endow  you  with  power  and  wifdom  to  fubduc 
all  your  fpiritual  enemies,  and  to  conquer  your  concupi- 
fcence,  and  the  inordinate  defnes  and  afFecftions  of  your 
o\Y/n  hearts,  that  you  may  take  up  the  crofs  of  Chrift  and  fol- 
low him  as  your  great  pattern,  and  in  his  name,  and  by 
the  help  and  afliftance  of  his  Holy  Spirit,  you  may  know 
how  to  overcome  all  temptations. 


His 


His  Prayer  after  SeriMon. 

Ti  jf  0  ST  glorious  Lord  God  I  xvonderfnl  is  thy  gre&'  \  oxvcr 
JlVJL  over,  all,  which  thou  haft  revealed  and  made  mani- 
feft  in  this  thy  hlefftd  day,  Thy  arm,  0  thou  Almighty 
God  I  is  ftr etched  forth  ;  thou  hajl  touched  a  remnant  with 
a  fenfe  of  thy  divine  love,  ivhom  thou  hafl  gathered  unto 
thy  name  ;  thou  haft  revealed  thy  great  falvation,  and  there^ 
with  thou  haft  made  glad  the  fouls  of  thy  children  ;  thou 
haft  endeared  thyfelf  unto  us  by  the  difcovery  and  manifef- 
tation  of  thy  abounding  love^  who  didft  love  us,  when  we 
were  ftrangers,  and  didji  preferve  us  vjhen  we  were  enemi  es, 
and  brought  a  glorious  day  of  vifttation  upon  us,  and  opened 
our  eyes  to  behold  the  light  thereof,  fo  that  we  were  a 
people  engaged  to  fpeak  good  of  thy  name.  Thou  hafl 
declared  and  manifefted  to  the  fons  and  daughters  of  men 
thy  good  will,  and  thy  univerfal  grace  that^thou  art  daily 
extending  to  them,  that  all  may  be  made  partakers  of  the 
riches  of  thy  houfe,  and  of  thy  great  falvation  which  by 
the  Lord  Jefus  Chrifl   thou    haft  ordained. 

And,  O  thou  powerful  God  of  Life  1  ftnce  the  .  day  that 
thou  firft  gathered  us,  thou  haft  been  with  us,  thou  haft  been 
.  our  guide,  and  our  eyes  have  been  towards  thee  for  inftru^Hon^ 
thou  haft  taught  us  and  led  us  in  the  way  in  which  thou 
wopldeft  have  us  to  walk  ;  thou  haft  led  us,  0  Lordy  in  the 
way  everlafting  with  the  poor,  the  humble  and  the  ?neek  of 
the  earth  ;  and  thou  haft  placed  our  feet,  O  Lordy  near  the 
everlafting  mountain,  which  thou  haft  exalted  upon  the  high 
hills  of  the  earth,  and  thou  haft  revealed  the  glory  and  the 
fplendor  of  thy  houfe,  thy  holy  dwelling  place,  and  hafi  raifed 
breathings  in  the  hearts  of  thy  people,  that  they  may  dwell 
in  thy  courts  forever :  And  now.  Holy  Father  I  thou  haft 
gathered  a  remnant,  and  brought  a  peculiar  people  to  truft  in 
thy  name ;  but  fill  we  do  all  that  ive  do  by  thee  ;  thou 
tnuft  be  our  keeper,  thou  muft  be  our  preferver,  therefore  we 
wait  upon  thee ;  ive  expeO:  all  from  thy  hand,  therefore  cur 
applications  are  unto  thee,  that  from  day  to  day,  and  frc?n 
time  to  time,  we  may  find  thy  living  prefcnce  in  the  ?nidft 
of  us, 

Andy  0  living  God  of  Life !  thou  haft  given  thy  children 
large  experience  that  tho^  art  a  God  nigh  at  hand  to  us,  in 

all 


?<^4  -^^"-f  Prayer  after  Sermon. 

II  our  trials ,  hi  all  our  exercifes  ;  as  our  eyes  have  been 
Vijfned  irO  theey  thou  haft  preferved  us,  and  revealed  thy  heavenly 
power y  0  Lord,  in  preferving  and  delivering  thy  church  and 
people,  that  they  may  bear  a  teftimony  in  ^heir  generation  for 
thy  great  love,  and  the  great  falvation  that  thou  haft  ivrought 
for  them  and  made  them  partakers   of 

Noiv  blejfed  God  of  Life  I  the  deftres  and  fupplications  of 
thy  people  are  unto  thee,  for  the  glorifyi?ig  of  thy  power, 
and  the  exalting  of  thy  glorious   name, 

O  Lord !  let  the  tnighty  operation  of  thy  power  bow  down 
all  flout  and  ftubborn  ones,  that  have  rebelled  againft  thee, 
and  that  have  withftood  the  tenders  of  thy  grace^  and  the 
fnotions  and  flrivings  of  thy  Holy  Spirit :  Thou  art  able  to 
bow  them,  and  to  break  their  Jtony  hearts ;  thou  art  able 
to  fpeak  effectually  to  their  fouls,  and  to  make  them  fubmit 
themf elves   to  thee. 

Holy  and  living  Father  I  let  the  progrefs  of  thy  word 
and  gofpel  be  great  in  our  day  ;  let  it  have  a  free  courfe 
andjpread  it f elf  mightily  to  thofe  that  believe  not^  to  beget 
a  feed  of  faith  in  their  fouls  ^  that  they  may  believe  in  thy 
namcy  and  trufl  in  thy  poiver,  and  wait  to  fee  the  great  work 
of  redemption  wrought  ^f or  the  falvation  of  their  immortal 
fouls y   before  the  day   of  their  vifitation  goes   over. 

Powerful  God  of  Life  I  thy  little  remnant  which  thou 
hafi  redeemedy  keep  them  by  thy  power,  and  preferve  them  in 
iiprightnefs  and  cleMinefs  of  mind ;  preferve  the?n  in  the 
places  and  flations  vjJierein  thou  hafl  appointed  them  to  dwell, 
that  fo  in  all  the  trials,  and  tribulations,  and  diftreffes, 
that  may  come  upon  them,  they  may  be  quiet  and  ftill,  and 
in  patience  pojfefs  their  fouls  ;  and  let  them  have  firong 
confolation  in  that  everlafting  covenant  which  in  thy  Son 
thou  haft  made  with  them,  and  revealed  to  them  ;  and  let 
them  not  be  moved  and  toffed  with  the  hurries  of  this  world, 
with  the  tumults  and  diforders  that  evil  men  make  in  it^ 
and  tho.  forms  and  the  tempefts  that  are  raifed ;  but  let 
their  hearts  and  minds  he  ftayed  upon  thee^  that  they  w.ay 
know  how  to  behave  themfelves  towards  thee  and  one  another, 
and  towards  all  that  are  without,  and  thereby  glorify  and 
magnify  thy  great  name  by  the  beauty  of  holinefs  Jhini?ig 
in  their  converfations,    which  may  reach  the  confciences    of 

men^ 


His  Prayer  after  Sermok.  3^S 

,.,„  that  all  that  fee  them  may  fay,  thefe  are  the  flam  tht^ 
tkerl^n    hand  of   God    hath    planted,    and  fee   the  frut's 
Zt  are  brought  forth  from   that  root  of    hje   revealed  m 

^MowertdGod  of  Life  I  carry  on  thine  oxvn  work  in  f/i» 
aty  and  the  whole  nation,  and  in  other  faces  ^mong  the 
Lople  which  thou  hafi  chofen  and  gathered  to  thyfelf  on.  0/ 

"ths  ivovlf'  ' 

V.  .Jeov:eM   God  of  Life  !    rememher   thofe  that  groan   m 

of  thv^akin^  their  moan  to  thee,    that  they  cannot  lay  hotc. 

i/att.'\--tton  for  thetr  fouls:    Prepare  them  for  that  con^ 
•a   aay  xvreJfUng  vjtth   thee    by    earneft  prayer,     but  ivhat 

^M  all  their  ivrejtiu7g  Ugmfy,  except  thy  ivord  'and  the  poiver 
of  thy  grace  affift  them,  and  teach  them  to  lay  hold  of  thy 
ftrefigth,  that  they  may  fight  the  good  fight  of  faith,  that 
they  may  get  the  viBory,  afid  rejoice  in  thy  fakation,  and 
fee  the  glory  of  it  ?  Thou  feeft  how  the  chtlclren  of  men  are 
working  and  contriving  divers  ways  for  their  own  falvatton  ; 
make  them  to  know  that  all  their  01  i  ways  and  inventions 
are   in  vain, 

Bleffed  God  of  Life  I  confound  the  devices  of  the  ungodly 
thatfeek  to  lay  wafie  thy  heritage  ;  and  all  thofe  that  thcu 
hafi  gathered  by  thy  word,  do  thou  preferve  them,  that  they 
may  ferve  thee  with  fmcere  and  upright  minds  all  the  days 
of  their  lives  ;  and  offer  up  daily  thank fgivings  -and  living 
praifes  to  thee,  the  true  and  living  God,  and  Jefus  Chrtji 
whom  thou  hafi  fmt,  through  thy  eternal  Spirit,  who  alone 
art  worthy,  God  over  all,  Mefed  forever  and  ever.    Amen. 


CONTE>^'^ 


CONTENT    S.    ,       ■ 

S^RM.  pW-    \| 

Ij^HE    Great    Mediator   of  the   Everlafting  Co-    \' 

venant,  \    j 

H.  Heart  Preparation  for  receiving  the  Gofpel,  i-    /' 

HI.  The  Firft  and  Great  Commandment,  12 

IV.  The  Standard  of  Truth,  4^ 

V.  The  Great  Duty  of  remembering  our  Creator,        ^6^, 

VI.  The  Divine  Monitor,  or  Light  from  Heaven,         70 

VII.  The  Inward  Preacher,    or    the  Office    of  Con- 

fcience,  ,  84 

VIII.  Saving  Faith,  the  Gift  of  God  alone,  96 

IX.  Truth's   Tcftimony   againft  the  Power  of  Sin  and 

Satan,  104/ 

X.  Bearing  the  Crofs   of  Chrift,    the  True  Mark  of 

a  Chriftian,  iir 

XI.  The  Spirit  of  Chrift,  the  only  True  Guide,  I^6 

XII.  Pure  and  Spiritual  Worfhip,  i?8 

XIII.  The  Divine  Life  of  Chrift  Jefus,  148 

XIV.  The  Kingdom  of  God  within,  156 

XV.  The  undefiled  W^j  to  Eternal  Reft,  165 

XVI.  The  Dawning  of  the  Day  of  Grace  and  Salvation,  174 
XVIL  The  Excellency  of  Peace  with  God,  185: 
XVIII.  True  Chriftianity,  196 
XIX. -The  Great  Work  of  Man's  Redemption,  208 

XX.  The  Word  of  God  a  Chriftian ^s  Life,  222 

XXI.  The  Neceflity  of  a  Holy  Life  and  Converfation,    2^4 

XXII.  Baptifm  and  the  Lord's  Supper,  25a 

XXIII.  Chrift  the  Way,  the  Truth,  and  the  Life,       264 

XXIV.  Captive  Sinners  fet  free  by  Jefus  Chrift,  275- 
^,XV.   The   Sheep   of  Chrift,   hear  his  Voice,                291 

^XVI.  No  True  Worftiip  without  the  Right  Know- 
ledge of  God,  ^or 
^VII.  The  Wonderful  Love  of  God  to  Mankind,       ^16 

XXVIII.  Salvation  from  Sin  by  Jefus  Chrift,  J27 

XXIX.  The  Acceptable  Sacrifice,  33^ 
OL.AjChrift  the  Way  to  Eternal  Life,                       'rt-^'-.^rr 

-XI.   Chrift  All  in  All,  J^^''''% 

•XII.  Chriftian's  (hould  often  think  on    the  Namr.'l^^oP;^ 

of  the  Lord.     This  laft  Sermon  was  preacj^/       0^ 

ed  at  Devonftiire-Houfe,  a  fhort  Titt-  V 

fore  his  Deceafe.  '.  /^ 


